Building Men: African American Men's Community Organizations and the Creation of Camp John Hope, 1933-1937 Open Access

Abstract

Several historians of African American education discuss the importance of out-of-school program spaces in providing well rounded academic, democratic and cultural education during the segregation era. This historical case study contributes to this literature by investigating the people, purpose, and impact of the Georgia State Council for Work among Negro Boys (GSCNB). The GSCNB was composed of several delegates from all parts of Georgia including college presidents, K-12 educators, parents, and community members all concerned with the lack of development opportunities available for African American boys. The years in which they were active, 1933-1937, present a small scale view designed to analyze their contributions to the larger subject of enrichment programs for Black boys. The purpose of this study is to delineate the processes of how these African American educators and community organizers created a state-wide network and completed and created a major project with a coalition of state and federal entities. Their major project, Camp John Hope, was the first modern camping facility for African American youth in the southern region. This study is guided by the following research questions: What circumstances and actors led to the founding of the Georgia State Council for Work among Negro Boys? What were the makeup, purpose, and activity of the GSCNB? What circumstances led to the decline of the GSCNB? What influence did the GSCNB have on the accessibility and design of Camp John Hope and enrichment programs for Black boys in Georgia and across the South?

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION. 1

Purpose. 2

Significance. 3

Conceptual Orientation. 4

LITERATURE REVIEW. 11

Scope and Setting. 12

Progressivism and Education. 22

African American Males in Education Policy and Enrichment Programs. 31

METHODOLOGY. 39

Data Collection and Sources. 41

Data Analysis. 44

Researcher Bias. 46

FINDINGS. 47

DEEPLY STIRRED: The Circumstances leading to the Founding of the GSCNB. 49

THE CHALLENGE MUST BE MET BY US: Pilot Year Activities, the Creation of Camp John Hope, and the Transition of the GSCNB. 64

Phase 1: Building the Network. 66

Phase 2: Informing and Supporting the Network. 70

Health Education. 71

Vocational Guidance. 71

More Profitable Use of Leisure Time and Thrift Education. 72

The Need for a Philosophy of Life. 73

The Creation of Camp John Hope. 74

NECESSARY ORGANIZATIONAL MACHINERY: The Impact of the GSCNB. 88

Interagency Cooperation. 89

Organizational Machinery. 90

Increased Access. 91

The Creation and Construction of Camp John Hope. 93

Demonstration. 94

DISCUSSION. 96

Limitations. 103

Implications. 104

Works Cited. 106

Newspapers. 110

Archival Sources. 111

APPENDIX A: Example Document Analysis Worksheet. 114

APPENDIX B: Example Data Idea Map. 115

About this Dissertation

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Educational Studies
Degree	PhD
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Black Studies History, Black Education, History of
Keyword	Community Care Interpersonal Care African American Men's Organizations Institutional Care
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Siddle Walker, Vanessa, Emory University
Committee Members	Jensen, Robert J, Emory University Downey, Charles A, Emory University Savage, Carter, Morehouse College

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