Forrester Blanchard Washington
Encyclopedia
Forrester Blanchard Washington (1887–1963) was an African American pioneer in social work.
in 1887. His location somewhat protected him from the open racism that inhibited that lives of his southern African American peers (Barrow, 2007). “Washington’s family raised him in this comparatively tolerant environment and was able to provide him with the opportunity for a rich education, one that was exceptional for African Americans of that era” (p. 201). His family moved to Boston
where Washington graduated from South Boston High School in 1905. He graduated from Tufts College (now University)
in 1909. He pursued a post-baccalaureate degree in economics at Harvard University
from 1912 to 1914 and graduated from Columbia University
with a master’s degree in social economy in 1917. He was married in 1918. Washington was a National Urban League
(NUL) fellow and received his social work training at the New York School of Social Work, which subsequently launched him into his career (Barrow, 2007).
era migration. Washington called for equal employment opportunities in Detroit while urging the black migrants to adjust to urban life. However, his leadership of the DUL was short-lived when he was drafted into the U.S. Army to fight World War I. Washington was later released from the army when Dr. George Edmond Haynes (another social welfare pioneer) obtained his release so that he could help assist Dr. Haynes with the newly created Division of Negro Economics within the U.S. Department of Labor (Barrow, 2007). Although defunded and short lived, according to Barrow (2007):
(FERA) in February 1934 (2007). As it relates to his tenure at the Atlanta University Social of Social Work, Barrow states:
Through his own work serving the social‐welfare needs of the African American population from 1917 to 1927, Washington discovered firsthand the benefits of social services being provided to African Americans by people within their own communities. As such, Washington felt that it was important to train other African American social workers to work with their own people. Washington’s work was meaningful, but in 1927 he reached a career plateau and desired a change. Washington understood that, although there had been a northward migration, most African Americans still lived in the South. They had many unmet needs and few people and institutions to help them. He wrote to an associate and described “an epiphany” (Washington, January 5, 1928 as cited by Barrow, 2007). He had been encouraging other trained social workers to relocate to the South and finally recognized that “the only common sense thing [was for him] to practice what he preached” (Washington, January 5, 1928 as cited by Barrow, 2007). He made a decision to “consecrate his life to social work education” (Washington, January 5, 1928 as cited by Barrow, 2007) and accepted a position as director of the Atlanta School of Social Work in 1927 (p. 177).
This speaks to Washington’s commitment to education, his people, and the social work profession. As aforementioned, this position led to Washington’s subsequent position in the FERA during the great depression. The Great Depression called for new bold action to alleviate widespread suffering as a result of 1929 crash. This action came from the newly elected president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) in 1932. One of the biggest pieces of legislation of the New Deal was the FERA which disbursed $500 million in grants for direct relief. Over its three-year existence, FERA spent more than 4 billion dollars in relief. However, due to discrimination of the time African Americans were disadvantaged and sometimes did not fully benefit from this relief. As a result of their growing displeasure and political voice of the 1930s President Roosevelt created appointments of a diverse group of African American intellectuals known as “The Black Cabinet
” which Washington was a member (Barrow, 2007).
As such, In 1934 Washington was appointed director of Negro Work in the FERA under FDR. As director, Washington criticized and publicized the unequal treatment African Americans at the hands of state FERA administrators and white employers. Washington used his post to assert that the federal government had the responsibility of ensuring equal employment opportunities rather than allow them to develop dependency on federal relief. He called for equal employment and educational opportunities to insure that black workers would be self-supporting. He also called on fellow social workers to assume an activist political role in advocating both within the Roosevelt Administration
and in the private sector for greater work opportunities for African Americans. In the face of continued silence and resistance from the Roosevelt administration, Washington resigned as director of Negro Work at FERA and returned to his post with the Atlanta School for Social Work in 1935. He remained there until his retirement in 1960. He died in 1963 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Washington was/is a social work and welfare pioneer who “modeled a principle response to social injustice” as a government advisor and who fought the unfair policies and the social welfare structures of the 1930s. Additionally, Gary & Gary, (1994) as cited by Barrow (2007) posit that:
Thus, Washington life and contributions are an important part of social welfare history because it increases our understanding of the evolution of contemporary social welfare and social work education. It also expands knowledge about African American’s contributions to social welfare policy and the social work profession as a whole. His contributions can encourage us (particularly African American social workers) to strive toward social justice, advocacy, and a stronger commitment to the profession.
Early life and education
Washington was the first of four children born to John Washington and Lucy Wily Washington in Salem, MassachusettsSalem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
in 1887. His location somewhat protected him from the open racism that inhibited that lives of his southern African American peers (Barrow, 2007). “Washington’s family raised him in this comparatively tolerant environment and was able to provide him with the opportunity for a rich education, one that was exceptional for African Americans of that era” (p. 201). His family moved to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
where Washington graduated from South Boston High School in 1905. He graduated from Tufts College (now University)
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
in 1909. He pursued a post-baccalaureate degree in economics at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
from 1912 to 1914 and graduated from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
with a master’s degree in social economy in 1917. He was married in 1918. Washington was a National Urban League
National Urban League
The National Urban League , formerly known as the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, is a nonpartisan civil rights organization based in New York City that advocates on behalf of African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States. It is the oldest and largest...
(NUL) fellow and received his social work training at the New York School of Social Work, which subsequently launched him into his career (Barrow, 2007).
Detroit Urban League and WWI
In the following years Washington held a number of important leadership positions. In his first position he served as the first director of the Detroit Urban League (DUL). He led the DUL when the city experienced the rapid growth of its black population during the World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
era migration. Washington called for equal employment opportunities in Detroit while urging the black migrants to adjust to urban life. However, his leadership of the DUL was short-lived when he was drafted into the U.S. Army to fight World War I. Washington was later released from the army when Dr. George Edmond Haynes (another social welfare pioneer) obtained his release so that he could help assist Dr. Haynes with the newly created Division of Negro Economics within the U.S. Department of Labor (Barrow, 2007). Although defunded and short lived, according to Barrow (2007):
Work in the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and Atlanta University School of Social Work
Thereafter, Washington returned to Detroit where he would eventually become the director of the NUL affiliate in Philadelphia called the Armstrong Association of Philadelphia in 1923. He also became director of research for Associated Charities (Barrow, 2007). Three years later he became the director and educator at the Atlanta University School of Social Work (now the M. Whitney Young, Jr. School of Social Work). It was from this post that Washington would be recruited to become the director of Negro Work in the Federal Emergency Relief AdministrationFederal Emergency Relief Administration
Federal Emergency Relief Administration was the new name given by the Roosevelt Administration to the Emergency Relief Administration which President Herbert Hoover had created in 1932...
(FERA) in February 1934 (2007). As it relates to his tenure at the Atlanta University Social of Social Work, Barrow states:
Through his own work serving the social‐welfare needs of the African American population from 1917 to 1927, Washington discovered firsthand the benefits of social services being provided to African Americans by people within their own communities. As such, Washington felt that it was important to train other African American social workers to work with their own people. Washington’s work was meaningful, but in 1927 he reached a career plateau and desired a change. Washington understood that, although there had been a northward migration, most African Americans still lived in the South. They had many unmet needs and few people and institutions to help them. He wrote to an associate and described “an epiphany” (Washington, January 5, 1928 as cited by Barrow, 2007). He had been encouraging other trained social workers to relocate to the South and finally recognized that “the only common sense thing [was for him] to practice what he preached” (Washington, January 5, 1928 as cited by Barrow, 2007). He made a decision to “consecrate his life to social work education” (Washington, January 5, 1928 as cited by Barrow, 2007) and accepted a position as director of the Atlanta School of Social Work in 1927 (p. 177).
This speaks to Washington’s commitment to education, his people, and the social work profession. As aforementioned, this position led to Washington’s subsequent position in the FERA during the great depression. The Great Depression called for new bold action to alleviate widespread suffering as a result of 1929 crash. This action came from the newly elected president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) in 1932. One of the biggest pieces of legislation of the New Deal was the FERA which disbursed $500 million in grants for direct relief. Over its three-year existence, FERA spent more than 4 billion dollars in relief. However, due to discrimination of the time African Americans were disadvantaged and sometimes did not fully benefit from this relief. As a result of their growing displeasure and political voice of the 1930s President Roosevelt created appointments of a diverse group of African American intellectuals known as “The Black Cabinet
Black Cabinet
The Black Cabinet was first known as the Federal Council of Negro Affairs, an informal group of African-American public policy advisors to United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was supported by the first lady Eleanor Roosevelt...
” which Washington was a member (Barrow, 2007).
As such, In 1934 Washington was appointed director of Negro Work in the FERA under FDR. As director, Washington criticized and publicized the unequal treatment African Americans at the hands of state FERA administrators and white employers. Washington used his post to assert that the federal government had the responsibility of ensuring equal employment opportunities rather than allow them to develop dependency on federal relief. He called for equal employment and educational opportunities to insure that black workers would be self-supporting. He also called on fellow social workers to assume an activist political role in advocating both within the Roosevelt Administration
Roosevelt Administration
There have been two Presidents of the United States with the surname "Roosevelt":*Theodore Roosevelt Administration, the 26th President of the United States, 1901 - 1909*Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration, the 32nd President of the United States, 1933 - 1945...
and in the private sector for greater work opportunities for African Americans. In the face of continued silence and resistance from the Roosevelt administration, Washington resigned as director of Negro Work at FERA and returned to his post with the Atlanta School for Social Work in 1935. He remained there until his retirement in 1960. He died in 1963 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Washington’s Social Work/Welfare Legacy and Conclusion
As it relates to Washington’s social welfare philosophy, it is inherent in his professional life as highlighted by his career above. However, Barrow (2007) sums it up the best:Washington was/is a social work and welfare pioneer who “modeled a principle response to social injustice” as a government advisor and who fought the unfair policies and the social welfare structures of the 1930s. Additionally, Gary & Gary, (1994) as cited by Barrow (2007) posit that:
Thus, Washington life and contributions are an important part of social welfare history because it increases our understanding of the evolution of contemporary social welfare and social work education. It also expands knowledge about African American’s contributions to social welfare policy and the social work profession as a whole. His contributions can encourage us (particularly African American social workers) to strive toward social justice, advocacy, and a stronger commitment to the profession.
Sources
- Barrow, F. (2007). Forrester Blanchard Washington and his advocacy for African Americans in the new deal. Social Work, 52(3), 201-208
- Barrow, F. (2007). More than a school—A promotional agency for social welfare: Forrester Blanchard Washington's leadership of the Atlanta university school of social work, 1927-1954. Arete, 31(1/2), 175-193.
- Carlton-LaNey, I. B. (2001). African American leadership: An empowerment tradition in social welfare history. National Association of Social Workers Press: Washington, DC.