Manhattanville Resolution facts for kids

The Manhattanville Resolution was an important set of ideas written by students and religious leaders at Manhattanville College. It was created in 1933 in Brooklyn, New York. The resolution aimed to support ending segregation and fighting for the civil rights of African Americans. It connected the beliefs of the Catholic Church to the idea of fairness, defending the human rights of African Americans.

Why the Resolution Was Written

Many students and teachers at Manhattanville College cared deeply about civil rights. They especially looked at how their Catholic faith could help achieve fairness for all people. The Manhattanville Resolution was a series of eight statements written by students in 1933.

The students were inspired by George Hunton. He was the editor of the Interacial Review. This journal shared Catholic views on different races living together peacefully.

In the 1930s, the Great Depression made life very hard for many. It was especially tough for poor communities, including African American ones. White people worried about losing their jobs. This sometimes led to more unfair treatment and violence against African Americans. The students at Manhattanville College wrote the eight resolutions because of this unfairness. They wanted to speak out against the violence and discrimination African Americans faced.

Motivated by Hunton's ideas, the students worked to pass these resolutions. The college president, Grace Dammann-RSCJ, fully supported these efforts. She was a strong supporter of racial justice, just like her students.

What the Resolution Said

The Manhattanville Resolutions were adopted by college students to fight against racial injustice. There are eight main points in the resolution:

• The first point said that African Americans, as people and citizens, deserve basic rights. These include life, freedom, and the chance to be happy. They also deserve all the important opportunities in life and full social justice. This point reminds us of the U.S. Constitution.
• The second point asked people to be kind and polite to every African American person. It reminded everyone of the heavy burden of unfairness and discrimination they carried. It also noted that no other group in America had faced so many challenges.
• The third point encouraged people to say something kind about African Americans whenever they had the chance.
• The fourth point warned against speaking badly or using hurtful nicknames. These words could make African Americans feel sad, offended, or discouraged.
• The fifth point stated that the Catholic Church and its social justice programs offered "the greatest hope" for African Americans.
• The sixth point reminded people that African Americans are part of the same spiritual family in Christ. It asked people to act in a way that showed this shared connection.
• The seventh point encouraged people to give generously on Sundays. This was for collections that supported missionaries working with African American groups.
• The last point urged people to become more interested in the well-being of African Americans. It also asked them to take active steps to improve their spiritual and material lives.

Who Wrote the Resolution

The Manhattanville Resolutions were created by a group called "A Committee of Catholic College Graduates and Undergraduates." Another group, "The Interracial Committee of the Brooklyn Catholic Action Council," also helped. Francis S. Mosely wrote the introduction to the resolution.

The committee was an independent group. It was not officially connected to any single college or university. Some of the people on this committee included:

• Thomas J. Masterson (chairman)
• Alfred A. Cooper
• Joseph G. Cox
• Wm. Fitzgerald
• Mary Gallagher
• Raymond J. Goetz
• Rita L. Honerkamp
• Marjorie McLinden
• Francis J. Lovelock
• Edgar A. Martin
• Eileen O’Mahoney
• Agnes Toner
• James J. Walsh

Its Impact

The Manhattanville Resolution became a guide for Catholic colleges. It helped them start programs to support different races working and learning together. After the resolution was published, Catholic colleges met many times. They discussed how to further desegregate schools. These discussions happened at the Catholic Interracial Conferences, which began in 1935.

The Manhattanville Resolution started important public talks among Catholic colleges about racial equality. This was a big help to the wider civil rights movement. When religious groups supported equal education and other basic rights, it made the argument for African American rights even stronger.