From Nationalism to the New Deal

<p><strong>Why did Garvey’s Black nationalism collapse while Randolph’s labor organizing reshaped American politics? This book traces the roots, and the relevance, of two competing visions for Black liberation.</strong></p><p><em>From Nationalism to the New Deal</em> examines two major currents in twentieth-century Black political history: the meteoric rise of Marcus Garvey’s United Negro Improvement Association and the long campaign led by A. Philip Randolph to organize the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Through a careful study of their approaches, the book asks why Garvey’s movement ultimately lost momentum, while Randolph’s efforts contributed to lasting gains for Black working people.</p><p>The book argues that Garvey’s popularity emerged in a period of political exclusion, but his message and goals were aligned with the interests of a frustrated black bourgeoisie. In contrast, Randolph focused on building class-based organizations rooted in the labor movement, connecting Black struggles to broader demands for economic justice and democratic participation.</p><p>This analysis challenges race-first frameworks that remain influential in Black politics today, suggesting they often reflect the interests of a professional class increasingly removed from working-class concerns. The book also addresses the tendency to dismiss the New Deal as simply racist, offering a more nuanced view of how New Deal programs and labor organizing intersected with Black civil rights efforts.</p><p>Grounded in historical research and engaged with present-day debates, <em>From Nationalism to the New Deal</em> highlights lessons from the past that remain relevant for anyone interested in the future of racial and economic justice.</p>