Interview: John B. Summers, February 15, 1984

Interview: John B. Summers, February 15, 1984

African Americans--Southern States.

Migration, Internal.

African American churches

African Americans--Social life and customs.

Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social life and customs.

African Americans--Politics and government.

Philadelphia (Pa.)--Social conditions.

Race discrimination.

African Americans--Employment.

United States--Race relations.

African Americans--Social conditions.

African Americans--Segregation

John B. Summers (b. 1888) was born in Columbus, Ohio. The son of an AME Church minister in Columbus, Summers was raised by a prominent family in Ohio, before moving to Philadelphia in 1918 after being rejected for the draft. Summers was able to find work at Hog Island Shipyard thanks to family connections, which started his long career in politics and working with the labor organization movement. Summers would become one of the leading figures of politics in the African American community, although he mostly worked behind the scenes, and played a key role in their switch from Republican to Democrat.

1984-02-15

audio

2014OH184GN036

Charles Hardy

John B. Summers

African American newspapers.

Political corruption

Labor unions--Organizing

Gambling

Prohibition

Democratic Party (U.S.)