Indiana Law Journal Volume 85 Issue 4 Article 14 Fall 2010 Presidential Leadership and Civil Rights Lawyering in the Era Before Brown Lynda G. Dodd City University of New York Follow this and additional works at: https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj Part of the Civil Law Commons, Education Law Commons, and the Law and Politics Commons Recommended Citation Dodd, Lynda G. (2010) "Presidential Leadership and Civil Rights Lawyering in the Era Before Brown," Indiana Law Journal: Vol. 85 : Iss. 4 , Article 14. Available at: https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj/vol85/iss4/14 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law School Journals at Digital Repository @ Maurer Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in Indiana Law Journal by an authorized editor of Digital Repository @ Maurer Law. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Presidential Leadership and Civil Rights Lawyering in the Era Before Brownt LYNDA G. DODD* INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................1599 I. THE DAWNING OF A NEW CIVIL RIGHTS ERA ...................................................1607 A. WORLD WAR II AND THE MOBILIZATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS ......1607 B. THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS INFRASTRUCTURE .........................1609 II. CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT CHALLENGES UNDER TRUMAN ........................1610 A. TRUMAN'S FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE .........................................................1610 B. 1946: RACIAL VIOLENCE AND CALLS FOR JUSTICE ................................1612 III. THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS ...........................................1618 A. UNDER PRESSURE: TRUMAN CREATES A COMMHITEE ...........................1618 B. CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT POLICIES: PROPOSALS FOR REFORM .......1625 C. THE REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS .........1635 IV. REACTION AND REVOLT: TRUMAN'S CIVIL RIGHTS AGENDA ........................1638 A.