The Communist Party gained its original Black cadre, figures such as Cyril V. Briggs, Otto Huiswoud and Lovett Fort-Whiteman, largely through the merger of the African Blood Brotherhood with the Workers Party in 1922. However, it would be several years (and continued Comintern insistence) until the Party attempted to specifically organize Black workers. The first such organization was the American Negro Labor Congress founded in 1925. Fort-Whiteman became A.N.L.C. National Organizer and embarked on an extensive year-long tour to build the new organization.

‘Fort-Whiteman’s Tour Attracting Large Audiences’ from The Daily Worker. Vol. 4 No. 25. February 11, 1927.

Negro Workers Glad to Discuss Problems

CLEVELAND, Feb. 10. An enthusiastic crowd gathered in the assembly room of the Mt. Zion Congregational Church in Cleveland to hear an analysis of the race question, showing that organization is the only solution.

Lovett Fort Whiteman, organizer of the congress, outlined the international situation and showed the struggle of the colonial and semi-colonial peoples and oppressed races for freedom. He explained why China is fighting imperialism for her life and also India, Mexico and Nicaragua. Speaking of the purpose of the congress Whiteman said: “It stands to organize the colored workers into the trade unions and to fight against all discrimination in the trade unions; but wherever it is not possible to get the colored workers into the regular unions, then the Negroes must be organized separately and the A.F. of L. be forced to recognize them and accept them as locals. There is work for all militant trade unionists of both races.”

Business for Prejudice.

Saddie Van Veen, organizer of the Cleveland committee which called the meeting, acted as chairman and said:

“The prejudice and traditions of America against the colored people have no justifiable reason for existence and their continuation is due solely to the fact that it benefits big business to have a divided class. Only organization, regardless of color, race or sex, can win in the daily battle against the bosses. The American Negro Labor Congress was organized for that purpose.”

A discussion followed the presentation of the question and the local of the A.N.L.C. of Cleveland was enlarged by about a dozen new members.

Whiteman at E. Liverpool.

E. LIVERPOOL, Ohio. Under the auspices of the American Negro Labor Congress, Lovett. Fort Whiteman, its national organizer, delivered an address here in the Colored Elks Home.

This was the fourth and most successful talk delivered by Fort-Whiteman in this city. People of many classes and types were drawn to the meeting and judging by the undivided attention given the speaker, they were informed of things of an interesting and vital character that before they had given too little attention.

The police, the politicians, the workers who had assembled to hear the lecture, were held to close attention by Whiteman’s masterful, analysis of present world conditions. He also gave a clear conception of the Negro and his position in the imperialist society of America. The evils of segregation and Jim Crowism were bared to the people. The relation of the Negro to the 13th and 14th amendments to the constitution of the United States was shown.

“Only rats act cowardly and run to their holes when one of their number is trapped and burned. We wonder when Negroes will stop imitating rats and demand the rights of men,” said Whiteman.

Mass Meeting at Passaic.

PASSAIC, N.J. A mass meeting is arranged here for Monday night, Feb. 14, at 7:30 P.M., at which Lovett Fort-Whiteman will speak under the auspices of the American Negro Labor Congress. The lecture will be at Workers’ Home, 27 Dayton Ave., near Monroe St., Passaic, N.J. Problems of the Negro workers will be the subject. Admission is free.

The Daily Worker began in 1924 and was published in New York City by the Communist Party US and its predecessor organizations. Among the most long-lasting and important left publications in US history, it had a circulation of 35,000 at its peak. The Daily Worker came from The Ohio Socialist, published by the Left Wing-dominated Socialist Party of Ohio in Cleveland from 1917 to November 1919, when it became became The Toiler, paper of the Communist Labor Party. In December 1921 the above-ground Workers Party of America merged the Toiler with the paper Workers Council to found The Worker, which became The Daily Worker beginning January 13, 1924.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/dailyworker/1927/1927-ny/v04-n025-NY-feb-11-1927-DW-LOC.pdf