Sitkoff argues that the civil rights movement gained its first traction since the Civil War in the 1930's, thanks to the New Deal. He begins by tracing African-Americans' quest for civil rights since Reconstruction. He includes a discussion of the battle between Du Bois, Garvey and Washington over what blacks should fight for and how. He suggests that none of them were effective prior to 1933. The Republicans assumed they had black votes as the party of Lincoln so essentially ignored African-American demands. As most blacks were in the South, courting blacks was not in Republicans interest because it might antagonize whites while not providing any real benefit.

The Great Migration of blacks to the north during the 1920's and 1930's changed the equation. Although the majority of blacks still lived in the south, their numbers had become high enough in the north to have an impact on elections. As a result, Roosevelt began to ensure that blacks received part of the New Deal spoils. Roosevelt was also influenced by the interest of his wife in civil rights.

He created a black cabinet, appointed blacks to more federal posts than any of his predecessors, and apportioned part of New Deal jobs for blacks. In addition, he allowed blacks to be seated as delegates at the national convention, something not done before by either party. Republicans saw the danger and tried to court blacks by claiming that the Democrats were the party of white-supremacy. Many southern democrats were helping them by claiming that the party was becoming "the negro party". Nevertheless, Roosevelt's policies made the difference and blacks switched en masse to support the Democrats.

Sitkoff aruges that most blacks in the Depression saw little change in their day to day lives but the New Deal had fundamentally changed the issues. They were a courted part of the electorate and had more economic power than at any time in the past. Discrimination was not necessarily tolerated by whites.

He also implies that the New Deal laid the groundwork for the south's break with the Democrats. Many southerners were suspicious of the New Deal already, but the overt use of it to court the black vote was intolerable. It combined racial fears with fears of intrusive government. In addition, Roosevelt had formed a liberal coalition that could pass legislation without the south's approval. As early as the 30's, some southern democrats broke from Roosevelt and joined the Republicans. The move would continue until the 1960's, when the south would become solidly Democratic.

This is an excellent book. It is well written and argued. Anyone wishing to understand the roots of the Civil Rights movement must look at it. ( )