The Niagara Movement was a significant African American civil rights organization founded in 1905. It was established in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, by a group of prominent Black intellectuals and activists, including W.E.B. Du Bois, William Monroe Trotter, and others. The movement emerged in response to the accommodationist policies of Booker T. Washington, who advocated for vocational education and economic self-reliance for African Americans, rather than immediate civil rights and political equality.
The Niagara Movement called for a range of civil rights reforms, including:
- Full political rights for African Americans: This included the right to vote and to participate freely in the democratic process.
- Greater access to education: The movement emphasized the importance of higher education and the development of leadership among African Americans.
- Opposition to racial discrimination: The Niagara Movement openly challenged racial segregation and discrimination, demanding equal treatment under the law.
- Economic opportunities: Advocating for better job opportunities and economic conditions for Black people.
The Niagara Movement held its first conference in 1905 and continued to meet in subsequent years. However, due to internal divisions and the broader challenges facing the African American community, the organization struggled to maintain momentum. It eventually dissolved in 1910, but it laid the groundwork for future civil rights movements, including the founding of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) in 1909. The ideas and activist spirit of the Niagara Movement continued to influence later generations of civil rights activists.