August 18, 19, and 20, 2006 20, and 19, 18, August Centennial Commemoration Centennial The Cornerstone of the Modern Civil Rights Era: The Niagara Movement at Harpers Ferry

At the dawn of the twentieth century, opened Storer in 1867 as a mission The inspirational morning the outlook for full civil rights for school to educate former slaves. For was followed by an equally stirring African Americans was at a precarious twenty-fi ve years Storer was the only afternoon. The Niagarites listened to crossroads. Failed Reconstruction, school in West Virginia that off ered Henrietta Leary Evans, whose brother the Supreme Court’s separate but African Americans an education and nephew fought along side Brown equal doctrine (Plessy v. Ferguson), beyond the primary level. at Harpers Ferry, then Lewis Douglass, coupled with Booker T. Washington’s The Niagarites arrived in Harpers son of Frederick Douglass, and fi nally accommodationist policies threatened Ferry with passion in their hearts and Reverdy C. Ransom, pastor of the to compromise any hope for full and high hopes that their voices would be Charles Street African Methodist equal rights under the law. heard and action would result. They Episcopal Church in Boston. Ransom’s Harvard educated William Edward were now more than fi fty strong. speech on John Brown was described Burghardt Du Bois committed himself Women also attended this historic as a “masterpiece.” The late black to a bolder course, moving well beyond gathering where, on August 17, 1906, scholar, Dr. Benjamin Quarles, called the calculated appeal for limited civil the address, “…the most stirring single rights. He acted in 1905 by drafting episode in the life of the Niagara a “Call” to a few select people. The Movement.” Call had two purposes; “organized The conference concluded on determination and aggressive action on Sunday, August 19th, with the reading the part of men who believed in Negro of “An Address to the Country,”

freedom and growth,” and opposition penned by W.E.B. Du Bois: The Niagara Movement at Harpers Ferry Harpers at Movement Niagara The to “present methods of strangling

honest criticism.” We will not be satisfi ed to take one jot or The Cornerstone of the Modern Civil Rights Era: Rights Civil Modern the of Cornerstone The Du Bois gathered a group of title less than our full manhood rights. men representing every region of the We claim for ourselves every single right country except the West. They hoped that belongs to a freeborn American, to meet in Buff alo, New York. When political, civil and social; and until we refused accommodation, the members get these rights we will never cease to migrated across the border to Canada. protest and assail the ears of America. Twenty-nine men met at the Erie The battle we wage is not for ourselves National Park Service Non-Profi t Organization Beach Hotel in Ontario. The Niagarites alone but for all true Americans. U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Postage PAID adopted a constitution and by-laws, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Harpers Ferry, WV established committees, and wrote the With thunderous applause, the P.O. Box 65 25425 “Declaration of Principles” outlining Harpers Ferry conference drew Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 Permit No. 12 the future for African Americans. they were granted full and equal to a close. Years later recalling this 304-535-6298 After three days, they returned across membership to the organization. conference, Du Bois referred to it as the border with a renewed sense of The week was fi lled with many “…one of the greatest meetings that resolve in the struggle for freedom and inspirational speeches, meetings, American Negroes ever held.” equality. special addresses, and commemorative The Niagara Movement laid the Thirteen months later, from ceremonies. Max Barber, editor of The cornerstone of the modern civil rights August 15-19, 1906, the Niagara Move- Voice of the Negro said, “A more suitable era. A new movement found a voice. ment held its fi rst public meeting in place for the meeting of the Niagara The organization continued until the United States on the campus of Movement than Harpers Ferry would 1911, when almost all of its members Storer College in Harpers Ferry, West have been hard to fi nd. I must confess became the backbone of the newly Virginia. Harpers Ferry was symbolic that I had never yet felt as I felt in formed National Association for the for a number of reasons. First and Harpers Ferry.” Advancement of Colored People foremost was the connection to John A highlight for those gathered was (NAACP). There, the men and women Brown. It was at Harpers Ferry in 1859 John Brown’s Day. It was a day devoted of the Niagara Movement recommitted that Brown’s raid against slavery struck to honoring the memory of John themselves to the ongoing call for a blow for freedom. Many felt it was Brown. At 6 a.m. a silent pilgrimage justice and the struggle for equality. The Cornerstone of the John Brown who fi red the fi rst shot of began to John Brown’s Fort. The Modern Civil Rights Era: the Civil War. By the latter part of the members removed their shoes and Above: W.E.B. Du Bois (University The Niagara Movement at Harpers Ferry nineteenth century, John Brown’s Fort socks as they tread upon the “hallowed of Massachusetts - Amherst). Cover: had become a shrine and a symbol of ground” where the fort stood. The Delegates to the Second Niagara Centennial Commemoration freedom to African Americans, Union assemblage then marched single-fi le Movement Conference pose in front August 18-20, 2006 soldiers, and the nation’s Abolitionists. around the fort singing “The Battle of Anthony Hall on the Storer College Harpers Ferry was also the home Hymn of the Republic” and “John campus on August 17, 1906 (Harpers www.nps.gov/hafe/niagara of Storer College. Freewill Baptists Brown’s Body.” Ferry National Historical Park). Youth Discovery Tent Centennial Curriculum Guide August 18-20, 2006 A curriculum-based Niagara Movement educator guide with The weekend will also include programs designed speci- lesson plans based on national social studies standards is being fi cally for young people that will help them gain a better developed to span grades K through 12. The kits will initially be understanding of the signifi cance of the Niagara Movement. available on CD-ROM and will ultimately be available on the A Youth Discovery Tent will be open throughout the weekend. Web. Those who visit the tent will be able to engage in hands-on activities that will increase their understanding of the African Further information is available at www.nps.gov/hafe/niagara. American struggle for freedom and equality. Through art, singing, and debating our next generation of leaders will This publication is funded through a generous grant by the West become more familiar with the 1906 Niagara Movement – Virginia Humanities Council. the Cornerstone of the Modern Civil Rights Era.

Also featured will be a special traveling exhibit from the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, ongoing related fi lm presentations, and a United States Postal Service commemorative cancellation station. ARPERS FERRY istorical Association Please note that schedule and guests are subject to change. Artwork: “Marching to a Monument for Freedom,” by Richard In addition to the three-day commemoration August 18-20, Fitzhugh. 2006, the centennial will also include the following:

The Cornerstone of the Modern Civil Rights Era: The 1906 Niagara Movement at Harpers Ferry

The Niagara Movement, the cornerstone of the modern civil featured events include musical concerts and an historical rights movement in America, held its fi rst meeting on American reenactment of Niagara member Reverdy C. Ransom’s 1906 soil in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia in 1906. Why Harpers address, entitled “The Spirit of John Brown.” This address is Ferry? It was a symbol of freedom and a model for progress remembered as “The most stirring single episode in the history in the struggles for equality. In August of 2006 Harpers Ferry of the Niagara Movement.” A special highlight will be a panel Academic Symposium National Historical Park, the Jeff erson County NAACP, the discussion entitled, “The Problem of the Twentieth Century August 16-18, 2006 Harpers Ferry Historical Association along with other partners will be the Problem of the Color Line: Breaking Barriers in The academic symposium entitled, “The Niagara will host the centennial celebration of the Niagara Movement at America.” Invited panelists include Dr. Dorothy Height, Mr. Movement and the Dawning of Twentieth Century Civil Harpers Ferry. This commemoration will be held on the same Monte Irvin, Mrs. Juanita Abernathy, Dr. Eddie Henderson, Rights,” will be held August 16-18, 2006. This conference campus that hosted the Niagarites 100 years ago. It will include Mr. Joseph Wilder, and Congressman John Lewis. This event will be held in the same buildings that hosted the Niagara public commemorative events, an academic symposium, and will be followed by an author signing and reception. The Movement one hundred years ago and will stimulate the introduction of the Niagara Movement Curriculum Guide. evening will feature a gala concert by the World Famous Count unprecedented academic research, scholarship, and Basie Orchestra, directed by Bill Hughes featuring the debut debate on the subject of equality. Speakers include Dr. Centennial Commemoration of Dr. Frank Foster’s original musical score for the Niagara David Levering Lewis, the two-time Pulitzer Prize winning August 18-20, 2006 Centennial. biographer of Niagara founder, W.E.B. Du Bois. The centennial commemoration will open Friday, August 18 with an evening public reception followed by a gospel concert, On Sunday, August 20, participants will have the opportunity “J. R. Cliff ord and the Carrie Williams Case” opening keynote address and a dramatic presentation on the to walk in the footsteps of the men and women of the Niagara August 17, 2006 “Women of the Niagara Movement.” Invited guests include the Movement as the famous 1906 pilgrimage to the site of John J.R. Cliff ord, a leading member of the Niagara Movement, Shiloh Gospel Choir of Washington, D.C., Dr. Julian Bond, and Brown’s Fort. Other featured events will be a special address argued a landmark equal education case in the West Ms. Donzaleigh Abernathy. and book signing by Dr. Benjamin Hooks, a conversation with Virginia courts nearly six decades before the U.S. Supreme Dr. Du Bois Williams (granddaughter of W. E. B. Du Bois) and Court handed down the Brown decision in 1954. A special Saturday, August 19 will include a keynote address by two-time a concert by the John Hicks Trio. The day will conclude with historical reenactment of this trial will take place on Pulitzer Prize winning author, Dr. David Levering Lewis. Other guests and visitors posing for the centennial photo. Thursday August 17, 2006 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.