League of Coloured Peoples

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The League of Coloured Peoples was a British civil rights organization. The league was founded in 1931 in London with the goal of racial equality around the world. Though the league's primary focus was black rights in Britain, it also was involved in other civil-rights issues, such as the persecution of the Jews in Germany. In 1933, The League of Coloured Peoples began publication of the civil-rights journal The Keys, and was a powerful civil rights force until its dissolution in 1951.

1 The beginning
2 Aims
3 Accomplishments
4 References

[edit] The beginning

Harold Moody, a physician and devout Christian, was frustrated with the prejudice he experienced in Britain, from finding employment to simply obtaining a residence. Through his involvement with London Christian Endeavour Federation, Moody began to confront employers who were refusing jobs to black Britons. On March 13, 1931 in a London YMCA, Moody called a meeting with the contacts he had made over the years. On this night, they formed The League of Coloured Peoples.

The inaugural executive committee of The League of Coloured Peoples included:

Dr. C. Belfield Clark of Barbados
George Roberts of Trinidad
Samson Morris of Grenada
Robert Adams of British Guiana
Desmond Buckle of The Gold Coast

Also present at the inaugural meeting was Stella Thomas, who would go on to become the first woman magistrate in West Africa.

[edit] Aims

At the inaugural meeting, the The League of Coloured Peoples established four main aims:

1. To protect the social, educational, economic and political interests of its members

2. To interest members in the welfare of coloured peoples in all parts of the world

3. To improve relations between the races

4. To cooperate and affiliate with organisations sympathetic to coloured people

In 1937, a fifth aim was added:

5. To render such financial assistance to coloured people in distress as lies within our capacity

[edit] Accomplishments

[edit] The Colour Bar in the Workplace

From the league's inception in 1931 until the outbreak of World War II, the primary focus of The League of Coloured Peoples was eliminating the colour bar in the British workplace, in social life, and in housing. The colour bar refers to the restrictions placed on a group of people due to their race (or colour). Throughout Britain in the 1930s, black people were refused service in many restaurants, hotels, and lodging houses. They also found it extremely difficult to find employment in many industries; the medical profession in particular drew the attention of the league, most likely due to founder and president Harold Moody's personal struggles in that area. By 1935. a branch of the league focusing on equality in the shipping industry had grown to over 80 members. During the 1930s, The League of Coloured Peoples struck many blows for blacks in the workplace.