Salve Archives & Special Collections

Exhibits

The Crisis

A Record of the Darker Races

Curated by Greyson Corchado, '29

The Crisis is an American magazine that is the official publication of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Founded in 1910 by the famous civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois, its mission is to advance the unique contemporary issues that African-Americans face in the world, challenge notions of white supremacy, and provide a platform for black voices in a time when the media showed open prejudice for black people and did not tell their stories.

The Crisis was the first major publication of its kind to directly attack anti-black prejudice and highlight the institutions that perpetuated systemic racism in America, and it saw incredible growth early on, reaching 100,000 readers by the end of the decade. One of its greatest accomplishments was playing a role in triggering and sustaining the Harlem Renaissance and its explosion of African-American culture, particularly under Jessie Redmon Fauset’s editorship. The magazine helped legitimize and empower black people and other oppressed races, igniting discussion and debate that would eventually lead to the Civil Rights Movement.

Today, The Crisis continues to confront social justice issues and help everyone strive to fight for a just world for everyone, regardless of race. This featured edition published in October 1926 highlights both the triumphs and tragedies of African-American experiences nearly one hundred years ago, not far removed from a time period many historians refer to as the Nadir (or low point) of American Race Relations.

W.E.B Du Bois

A photograph of the founder of The Crisis and co-founder of the NAACP. He was known as a staunch opponent of fellow intellectual Booker T. Washington’s accommodation strategy and encouraged blacks to resist cultural assimilation and embrace their African-American heritage.

Photograph of W.E.B. Dub Bois by Cornelius Marion Battey, c. 1919. Accessed via https://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/ppmsca.38818/

Black Disenfranchisement and Barriers to Voting

An excerpt from W.E.B. Du Bois shows his assessment of democracy and voter participation in southern states, defending against the accusations of Southern state governors that African-American disenfranchisement was “self-imposed”.

The Ossian Sweet Trials

Excerpt from an article of a then-ongoing legal battle between Dr. Ossian Sweet and the city of Detroit. Defense attorney Clarence Darrow was able to convince the jury that the killing of Leon Breiner was justified out of self-defense.

Clarence Darrow

A photograph of America’s most famous criminal defense lawyer. Born and raised in Kinsman, Ohio, he moved to Chicago and became famous as a labor union lawyer until accusations of bribery forced him to transition to criminal defense. He is most famous for his work in the Leopold and Loeb trial and the Scopes trial.

Photo of Clarence Darrow. Accessed via https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/a439da40-c54f-012f-ecdd-58d385a7bc34?canvasIndex=0

John Brown and Harper’s Ferry

An excerpt on a history of John Brown and the events of his raid on Harper’s Ferry, written by civil rights attorney Clarence Darrow. Though John Brown failed to start a slave revolt and was executed by the Commonwealth of Virginia, his trial ultimately made him a martyr in the eyes of abolitionists and sparked the final events that would lead to the American Civil War.

John Wesley Work

An obituary on a man who dedicated his life to singing, orchestrating, and preserving African-American folk music at Fisk University in Tennessee. Though he saw much success early on, he was eventually driven out by a change in leadership.

The Crisis, Page 30

Winners of a NAACP baby photography contest.

The Crisis, Page 26

Descriptions of funding for African-American education, a black-led labor strike in Sierra Leone over racial discrimination, and a multiracial track team that was victorious at its track meet.

The Crisis, Page 22

A brief collection of black poems.

The Crisis, Page 25

An excerpt of a persuasive article written by a member of Congress imploring the NAACP to assist in the passage of H.  R.  9694, which would fund a dedicated monument to the 93rd Division of the American Expeditionary Forces in France.

Works Cited

Brown Jr., Edward. 1926. N.A.A.C.P. Prize Babies Magazine. Edited by William Du Bois.

Darrow, Clarence. 1926. Review of John Brown. Edited by William Du Bois. The Crisis, May 1926.

Du Bois, William, ed. 1926. Review of John Work. The Crisis, May 1926.

Du Bois, William, ed. 1926. Review of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The Crisis, May 1926.

Du Bois, William. 1926. Review of Opinion of W.E.B. Du Bois. Edited by William Du Bois. The Crisis, May 1926.

Du Bois, William, ed. 1926. Review of The Horizon. The Crisis, May 1926.

Grant, Jean. 1926. N.A.A.C.P. Prize Babies Magazine. Edited by William Du Bois.

Newsome, Effie. 1926. Review of The Little Page. Edited by William Du Bois. The Crisis, May 1926.

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. "Clarence S. Darrow." New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed November 6, 2025. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/a439da40-c54f-012f-ecdd-58d385a7bc34

White, Madeline. 1926. N.A.A.C.P. Prize Babies Magazine. Edited by William Du Bois.