Subject: History
Level: High School
Pages number: 3
Sources: 3
Style: MLA
Henry Grady, (1850 – 1889) the South’s Atlanta Constitution editor, was also a dynamic orator and journalist who brought out his own philosophy in order to improve the conditions of the “New South.” In his newspaper reports, he constantly attracted national attention by making contrasting reference to the Old South which was a mixture of myth and reality. He carried on his propaganda to society and the world at large that the South had changed from its dreary plantation days to one that was dynamic and open to economic advancement and prosperity. (History Matters.gmu.edu)Though he did not coin the phrase “New South”, he did his best to popularize it. The South which had been covered with a blanket of guilt on the rampant slavery that existed and therefore he wanted to bring about the change in fortunes by restoring the New South with its power and prestige once again. Grady’s creed also targeted the racial factor bringing equality to all races by wiping out slavery which was one of the controlling factors in the South.
The implementation of the Emancipation Proclamation that put an end to slavery was a major turning point in the fortunes of the South. In fact it not only freed the black slaves but gave a lot of freedom even to the whites. According to Grady, the Emancipation Proclamation was the first pre-requite to a healthy growth and prosperity in the South. He had a great sense of humor and quick wit that got him out of difficult situations many times in his career.
In 1865 after the defeat of the Confederacy and the abolishment of racial slavery in the southern regions, entrepreneurs, news personnel and landowners of the south, ushered in what they called the ‘New South.” Grady delivered an inspiring speech on the racial problem that existed in the South at the Faneuil Hall in Boston on the 12th December, 1889. Grady understood the seething hatred and anger that existed among the Blacks in the South and wanted to put an end to their misery. He passed comments on the South stating, "There was a South of slavery and secession - that South is dead. There is now a South of union and freedom - that South, thank God, is living, breathing, and growing every hour," (Schultz, Tishler. Web)
It was argued that after the Civil War destroyed the plantation economy, Reconstruction would help to create and develop a new economy which would cater to Industrial Capitalism of the American economy. Henry Grady’s mission was to become the ‘New South’s” chief exponent and traveled throughout the country delivering fiery speeches based on industrial development. Through Grady’s speeches we find that he took a fierce pride in regional affairs involving industrialization. Most of the capital for the mills came from the impoverished South that was badly hit by the Civil War, but even so it was not sufficient to carry on work on a regular basis, hence Grady knew that additional capital could make a big difference in the industry and so approached the North for funds.
Grady made a great impact through his speech at the renowned New England Society in New York which took place on 21st December, 1886. There were three very important points he made. 1) There no longer existed two nations in the U.S – because the Southerners had done away with the Mason – Dixon Line that separated them. 2) Agriculture was replaced by Industrialization and 3) Change in race relations – Blacks were now shareholders or partners in the ‘New South.’ ((History Matters. gmu.edu)
However, for all the initiatives taken by Grady, even by the 1900, the South never became economically independent. Instead of becoming independent, the South had become more dependent on the North. Black influence was not permitted in politics and they were not allowed to vote. Terror and violence prevailed everywhere as racism was kindled.
David Augustus Straker (1842-1908), became a prominent politician and activist of the Civil Rights Movement after he migrated to the United States in 1868. He was a lawyer and dealt with prominent cases of the African Americans. Straker played a very significant role in striving to procure social and political equality for the African American race. Straker was a dynamic but staunch Republican who got elected to public office of the State Legislature in 1876. (The Black Past.org) He was a fearless leader who did not believe nor agree with Grady’s assessment of the “New South.” He instead went on a campaign lecturing about the racial atrocities surrounding the African Americans of the so called “New South.” He became very well known for exposing the disgraceful antics displayed by the Democrats of the South and the so called change they tried to bring about. According to him, Grady’s mission of a ‘New South’ was but an illusion which did more bad than good for the Blacks. One among the five books he authored was titled ‘The New South Investigated’ where he exposed the racist attitude and policies of the southern democrats.
“Henry Grady Sells the “New South.” History Matters. History Matters, n.d. Web. 23 May 2010
K. Schultz S., P. Tishler W. “The “New South.” US. History. US. History, n.d. Web. 23 May 2010
“Straker, David Augustus (1842 – 1908)”. The Black Past. An Online Reference Guide to African American History. n.d. Web. 23 May 2010