Walter F. White (1893-1955)

TODAY'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH HIGHLIGHT

(1893-1955) Because Walter White had blue eyes, blond hair, and a light complexion, he was often mistaken for a white man. This gave him the chance to go to the Deep South and see what was happening in rural work camps. He saw countless murders and lynchings. In 1929, he wrote about his experiences, bringing the horrors of these crimes to the nation’s attention. White also wrote two power novels about racism, The Fire in the Flint and Fight. He was a founder of the Harlem Renaissance, a time when writers and artists explored black culture. In addition to work, White helped defend a number of blacks in well-known legal cases such as the 1919 Chicago Race Riot. He held several important position in the NAACP. Under his leadership, the organization grew, created a legal division, and put an end to all-white election primaries and housing discrimination. White became a close personal friend of Eleanor Roosevelt; through her, he was able to share many of his ideas with the president. Highlight text taken from "Discover the Adventures & Achievements of 60 Great Black Americans!"