Charlotta Bass and Her Work with the National Negro Congress

Charlotta Bass, a pioneering journalist and activist, was deeply committed to social justice, civil rights, and equality throughout her career. Her leadership extended beyond her editorial work at the California Eagle, where she was the editor and publisher for nearly 40 years. One of the key organizations through which Bass furthered her activism was the National Negro Congress (NNC). This organization, founded in 1936, played a pivotal role in addressing the pressing racial and economic inequalities facing African Americans during the mid-20th century. Through her involvement with the NNC, Bass worked tirelessly to unite African Americans, labor unions, and progressive allies in the fight for racial and economic justice.

The Formation of the National Negro Congress

The National Negro Congress was established in Chicago in 1936 by Black activists, labor leaders, and intellectuals, including A. Philip Randolph, the president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. The Congress sought to combat racial discrimination, segregation, and economic oppression by organizing a broad coalition of African Americans across class lines, with a particular focus on labor issues. The NNC aimed to address the urgent challenges of the Great Depression, which had disproportionately affected Black communities. These issues included unemployment, poverty, unequal wages, and rampant housing discrimination.

Charlotta Bass, already an outspoken advocate for racial justice through her work at the California Eagle, was naturally aligned with the goals of the NNC. The Congress provided a national platform that mirrored her long-standing advocacy for African American civil rights on the West Coast. She became involved with the organization and played a key role in amplifying its message to a wider audience, using her newspaper to support its initiatives.

Charlotta Bass and the Fight for Workers’ Rights

One of the central goals of the National Negro Congress was to advocate for the rights of Black workers, many of whom were excluded from labor unions or forced into low-paying, exploitative jobs. Charlotta Bass was a vocal supporter of the labor movement and used her platform to speak out against unfair labor practices and racial discrimination in employment. The California Eagle regularly published articles exposing discriminatory hiring practices, unsafe working conditions, and the exclusion of African American workers from trade unions.

Bass believed that economic justice was inextricably linked to racial justice. In her editorials, she emphasized that securing fair wages and decent working conditions for Black workers was crucial to dismantling systemic racism. Bass worked closely with labor leaders affiliated with the NNC, particularly in campaigns to desegregate labor unions and industries. The Congress’s emphasis on organizing Black workers into unions and demanding equal pay resonated with Bass’s broader vision of empowering African Americans economically as a foundation for achieving racial equality.

In Los Angeles, Bass used her influence to help organize Black laborers in key industries such as defense, transportation, and shipbuilding, especially during World War II. She often collaborated with local chapters of the NNC and labor unions to bring attention to the exclusion of Black workers from these industries, despite their willingness to contribute to the war effort. Her efforts contributed to the eventual integration of Black workers into the defense industry, where they found higher-paying jobs and improved working conditions.

Bass and the NNC’s Advocacy for Anti-Lynching Legislation

One of the most urgent issues that the National Negro Congress sought to address was the widespread terror of lynching. Lynching was a brutal form of racial violence used to maintain white supremacy in the United States, and the failure of the federal government to pass anti-lynching legislation remained a significant obstacle in the fight for racial justice. The NNC, under the leadership of A. Philip Randolph and other civil rights leaders lobbied for federal anti-lynching legislation and organized mass protests and rallies to demand action.

Charlotta Bass was a fierce opponent of lynching, and her newspaper, the California Eagle, became an essential tool in raising awareness about the epidemic of racial violence in America. She worked alongside the NNC to pressure elected officials to pass the Costigan-Wagner Anti-Lynching Bill, which had been introduced in Congress in the early 1930s. Although the bill was ultimately blocked by Southern Democrats in the Senate, Bass continued to use her platform to shine a light on racial violence and call for federal intervention to protect Black lives.

Through the California Eagle, Bass published editorials and reports on lynching cases across the country, calling attention to the lack of justice for victims and the complicity of local law enforcement. Her reporting helped galvanize public opinion and mobilize activists in support of anti-lynching legislation. Bass’s involvement with the National Negro Congress amplified these efforts, as the Congress organized large-scale rallies and demonstrations to demand an end to lynching. Together, Bass and the NNC helped to keep the issue of racial violence in the national spotlight, even as federal anti-lynching laws remained elusive.

Building Coalitions for Civil Rights

Charlotta Bass’s work with the National Negro Congress was not only focused on economic and labor issues but also on building broader coalitions to advance civil rights. The NNC believed in bringing together a diverse range of progressive groups, including labor unions, civil rights organizations, and left-wing political parties, to fight for racial and social justice. Bass, a lifelong advocate of coalition-building, was instrumental in fostering relationships between different movements in Los Angeles.

Through her work with the NNC, Bass helped to bridge the gap between African American activists and white progressive groups, labor unions, and other civil rights organizations. She believed that the fight for racial justice required a united front, and she often emphasized the importance of solidarity across racial and class lines. Bass’s advocacy within the NNC encouraged African American workers to join unions and align themselves with the broader labor movement, while also urging white workers to recognize the common interests they shared with Black workers in their struggles for fair wages and workplace rights.

The NNC’s broad-based coalition approach resonated with Bass’s own philosophy of activism. She often spoke at NNC events and used her newspaper to promote its initiatives, urging African Americans to support progressive causes and candidates who championed workers’ rights and racial equality.

Legacy and Impact

Charlotta Bass’s work with the National Negro Congress was a significant chapter in her long career as an advocate for social justice and civil rights. Through her involvement with the Congress, Bass elevated the voices of Black workers, brought national attention to racial violence, and built coalitions that would continue to fight for equality long after the NNC dissolved in the 1940s. Her legacy as a journalist and activist is inseparable from her work with the NNC, as both the organization and her newspaper shared a commitment to addressing the root causes of racial and economic injustice.

While the National Negro Congress eventually disbanded, its influence on the broader civil rights movement was undeniable. The alliances forged between labor unions, civil rights groups, and African American workers laid the groundwork for future movements, including the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Charlotta Bass’s work with the NNC helped to inspire a generation of activists and demonstrated the power of the Black press in shaping public opinion and mobilizing social change.

Through her leadership in both the California Eagle and the National Negro Congress, Charlotta Bass left an indelible mark on the struggle for racial and economic justice in the United States. Her work remains an important reminder of the interconnectedness of labor, civil rights, and media in the ongoing fight for equality.