TW: mentions of rape.

In the early twentieth century, discrimination against black people was prevalent in North America, Europe, as well as in Africa which was under colonial rule. Discrimination, racial attacks, and the use of violence against black people was common. They were not allowed to take part in sports; specifically, tennis. At the same time, the black community took the initiative to acquire equal rights in society.

During the European colonization, black people in Africa were denied due rights, and followers of Garveyism were constantly surveilled while Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA)’s newspaper, Negro World, was banned in Africa, including French West Africa, Nyasaland, Nigeria, Gambia and Gold Coast. Catete revolt was violently crushed by Portugal while the latter restricted all publications which sympathized with Africans (BLACK 2016).

African immigrants living in Europe and America were faced with multiple problems including denial of employment and racial attacks, in the early twentieth century. In Liverpool, Britain, the black community sweep took place just like it happened in the US. Also, The Society of Peoples of African Origin (SPAO) was established to address the problems of African immigrants albeit, the former was dissolved after some time (International Organizations A – L n.d.).

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, two newspapers run by white people claimed that a young black male tried to rape and assault a white female elevator operator due to which massive violence erupted in 1921. During the Tulsa race massacre, mobs of white people destroyed and torched houses, schools, and businesses of black people in segregated Greenwood District while killing around 300 African-Americans (Tulsa race massacre of 1921 2021). White people and even the US government did not sympathize or give compensation to the African-American victims of Tulsa. The riots resulted in the destruction and torching of 600 businesses, 30 grocery stores, 2 movie theatres, 21 restaurants and churches, 6 airplanes, schools, libraries, a hospital, and a bank.  With time, the white community of Oklahoma has begun to realize their mistake, which is a positive sign.

Despite this discrimination, the black community did not give up and strived for equal opportunities. In Europe, the Society of Peoples of African Origin (SPAO) was established to facilitate black people who faced various kinds of discrimination. The first black woman to get an international pilot license was named Bessie Coleman. Montana Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs was founded which was a prominent organization of African-Americans in the white majority community. The first all-black musical show on Shuffle Along on Broadway was a hit that opened various opportunities for the black community.

The black community was not provided with proper chances to take part in sports. The Apartheid regime in South Africa did not allow them to take part in tennis tournaments. The condition in Europe and America was no different. Out of love and passion for tennis and to get equal opportunities in sports, a group of African-American businessmen brought Shady first country club named Rest Golf and Tennis Club in New Jersey. The tennis tournaments in which the white people participated were almost triple than the tournaments in which black people participated. An African-American, Tally Holmes, participated in the fifth ATA Nationals and won the championship the third time. ATA Nationals were specifically organized to provide opportunities to black players which were not given in other tournaments. On the other hand, in 1921, eight tennis tournaments took place where only white people played tennis while not giving opportunities to black players. All in all, the advancements that the black population made were significant achievements in the face of racism.

References

Britannica. 2021. “Tulsa race massacre of 1921.” October 28.

BLACK, EDWIN. 2016. “Nazi Policy and Black Victims—Before, During, and After the Holocaust—from Africa to Berlin to North Carolina.” The Jerusalem Post, May 11.

World Statemen. n.d. “International Organizations A – L.” https://www.worldstatesmen.org/International_Organizations.html#League%20of%20Nations.