Angelo Herndon
Encyclopedia
Angelo Braxton Herndon was an African American
labor
organizer arrested and convicted for insurrection after attempting to organize black industrial workers in 1932 in Atlanta, Georgia
. (The prosecution case heavily rested on Herndon's possession of "communist literature.")
. Herndon received a copy of the Communist Manifesto from a white worker in the Unemployment Council, a group affiliated with the Communist Party
, that led him to get involved with social issues, and eventually to prison.
Herndon went to Atlanta as a labor organizer for the Unemployment Council. His involvement with the Communist Party brought him national prominence.
to Georgia
. In July, 1932, Herndon organized a hunger march and demonstration at the courthouse in Atlanta. On July 11, Herndon checked on his mail at the Post Office and was arrested by two Atlanta detectives. A few days later his hotel room was searched and Communist Party publications were found. Herndon was charged under a Reconstruction era law of insurrection in the state of Georgia.
He was held close to six months in jail and was released on Christmas Eve after his bail of $7,000 was paid by the International Labor Defense
organization. His freedom was short lived as an all white jury found Herndon guilty. He was sentenced to 18–20 years in prison.
Herndon served two years of his sentence and was released in 1934. Upon his release from prison Herndon was greeted as a hero by a crowd of 6,000 well-wishers at Pennsylvania Station
in New York City
. Several leading Communist Party officials were on hand to welcome him. His case was appealed, and Herndon was convicted for the second time by the Supreme Court of Georgia. It was not until 1937 that the decision was finally overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
He avoided publicity in the later part of his life, but founded the Negro Publication Society of America in the 1940s, which published the radical African-American newspaper The People's Advocate in San Francisco, California, among other works.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
labor
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
organizer arrested and convicted for insurrection after attempting to organize black industrial workers in 1932 in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. (The prosecution case heavily rested on Herndon's possession of "communist literature.")
Early life
Angelo Herndon was born into a poor family. He endured racial discriminationDiscrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
. Herndon received a copy of the Communist Manifesto from a white worker in the Unemployment Council, a group affiliated with the Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
, that led him to get involved with social issues, and eventually to prison.
Herndon went to Atlanta as a labor organizer for the Unemployment Council. His involvement with the Communist Party brought him national prominence.
Political activism
Herndon campaigned to organize Blacks to become politically active. He traveled from KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. In July, 1932, Herndon organized a hunger march and demonstration at the courthouse in Atlanta. On July 11, Herndon checked on his mail at the Post Office and was arrested by two Atlanta detectives. A few days later his hotel room was searched and Communist Party publications were found. Herndon was charged under a Reconstruction era law of insurrection in the state of Georgia.
He was held close to six months in jail and was released on Christmas Eve after his bail of $7,000 was paid by the International Labor Defense
International Labor Defense
The International Labor Defense was a legal defense organization in the United States, headed by William L. Patterson. It was a US section of International Red Aid organisation, and associated with the Communist Party USA. It defended Sacco and Vanzetti, was active in the civil rights and...
organization. His freedom was short lived as an all white jury found Herndon guilty. He was sentenced to 18–20 years in prison.
Herndon served two years of his sentence and was released in 1934. Upon his release from prison Herndon was greeted as a hero by a crowd of 6,000 well-wishers at Pennsylvania Station
Pennsylvania Station (New York City)
Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Several leading Communist Party officials were on hand to welcome him. His case was appealed, and Herndon was convicted for the second time by the Supreme Court of Georgia. It was not until 1937 that the decision was finally overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
He avoided publicity in the later part of his life, but founded the Negro Publication Society of America in the 1940s, which published the radical African-American newspaper The People's Advocate in San Francisco, California, among other works.
Writings
- The case of Angelo Herndon New York: Joint Committee To Aid the Herndon Defense 1935.
- Let Me Live New York: Random HouseRandom HouseRandom House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
1937. - "You cannot kill the working class," New York: International Labor DefenseInternational Labor DefenseThe International Labor Defense was a legal defense organization in the United States, headed by William L. Patterson. It was a US section of International Red Aid organisation, and associated with the Communist Party USA. It defended Sacco and Vanzetti, was active in the civil rights and...
and the League of Struggle for Negro RightsLeague of Struggle for Negro RightsThe League of Struggle for Negro Rights was organized by the Communist Party in 1930 as the successor to the American Negro Labor Congress. The League was particularly active in organizing support for the "Scottsboro Boys", nine black men sentenced to death in 1931 for crimes they had not committed...
1937. - The Scottsboro boys: four freed! five to go! New York: Workers Library Publishers 1937.
- The road to liberation for the Negro people (with others) New York, Workers Library Publishers 1939