Niagara Movement - Declaration of Principles

Declaration of Principles

The Niagara movement published their Declaration of Principles in 1905. The document was largely written by Du Bois In it the organization recognizes the progress made by Negroes and listed several concerns. First among these concerns were suffrage for women, civil liberty, equal economic opportunities, decent housing and neighborhoods, and equal access to education. The movement also made demands for equal justice in the American court system including removing discrimination from jury selection, equal punishments and equal efforts at reformation. The group also called for facilities for dependent children and juvenile delinquents and the abolition of the convict lease system. Employers were challenged to provide Negro-Americans with permanent employment. Labor unions were similarly challenged to stop boycotting Black laborers. The declaration also called for the nation to treat Black soldiers fairly by rewarding them for their service with promotions and to stop barring Blacks from military academies. The nation was also called upon to enforce the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.

The Declaration of Principles also made clear that any practice of segregation and discrimination was intolerable whether it was from the government, businesses, or even the Christian church. The document condemns any impression of assent to inferiority and submissiveness and indicated an absolute refusal to apologize for complaining loudly and insistently stating that "Persistent manly agitation is the way to liberty". In closing the document thanks those who have provided support for equal opportunity and promised to continue to demand the rights listed and to carry out the following duties: voting, respecting the rights of others, working, obeying the laws, being clean and orderly, sending their children to school, and self respect.