League of Struggle for Negro Rights facts for kids
The League of Struggle for Negro Rights was an important group in the 1930s. It was started by the Communist Party in 1930. This group worked to fight for the rights of Black people in the United States. It took over from an earlier group called the American Negro Labor Congress.
What the League Did
The League was very active in helping the "Scottsboro Boys". These were nine young Black men who were wrongly accused in 1931. The League worked hard to support them.
The group also campaigned for a special area in the South for Black people. This was a main idea of the Communist Party back then. They also spoke out against unfair treatment by police. The League opposed the Italian army taking over Ethiopia. They also fought against Jim Crow laws, which were unfair rules that separated people. The League also worked against fascism, which is a very controlling type of government. They also supported the Soviet Union, a country that existed at that time.
Important Leaders
Langston Hughes, a famous writer, became the League's President in 1934. Harry Haywood was the General Secretary. Another key leader was Bonita Williams. She moved from the Caribbean to Harlem. Bonita Williams joined the League after leaving another movement called Garveyism. While with the League, she created "Flying Squads." These groups of working-class housewives protested against high food prices.
Why the League Ended
The League of Struggle for Negro Rights mostly stopped working after 1935. At that time, the Communist Party changed its plan. They decided to work with other groups and people who were not communists. This was part of their "Popular Front" plan. Together, they formed a new group called the National Negro Congress.
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