The Progressive Era | The Crisis | 3

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 21 May 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt discharged 167 soldiers of the all-Black 25th Infantry stationed in Brownsville, Texas. The men were accused of shooting up the town. But there was little evidence to prove their guilt. Roosevelt’s decision sparked outcry among Black activists and revealed the limits of his campaign to build a more fair and just society.

But Black Americans refused to stand on the sidelines of the Progressive movement. In the aftermath of a deadly race riot in Springfield, Illinois, W. E. B. Du Bois and other activists formed a new national organization to fight racial prejudice, the N.A.A.C.P.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, history buffs, if you can't get enough of the captivating stories we uncover on American
0:04.7	history tellers, you'll love the exclusive experience of Wondry Plus. Dive even deeper into the
0:09.6	past with ad-free episodes, early access to new seasons, and bonus content that brings history
0:14.6	to life like never before. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondry app or on Apple Podcast and embark on
0:20.0	an unparalleled journey through America's most pivotal moments.
0:23.6	A listener note, this episode contains graphic descriptions of racial violence and may not be suitable for everyone.
0:47.1	Thank you. Imagine it's November 1906 in Washington, D.C.
0:50.5	You're a civil rights advocate visiting the war department offices.
0:54.8	A secretary ushers you into a high-ceilined room where you find the hulking form of Secretary of War William Howard Taft. He sits behind a cluttered desk, sorting
1:00.5	through a mountain of correspondence. He scans a letter and then tosses it on a pile before looking
1:06.0	up at you. Ah, please have a see. You settle into the chair across from his desk and smooth out the wrinkles in your skirt.
1:15.4	Mr. Secretary, thank you for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice.
1:19.0	I've come on behalf of the 25th infantry, the black soldiers dishonorably discharged in Texas.
1:24.5	Sir, there's no evidence that these soldiers did anything wrong. It's all down to
1:28.0	rumor and prejudice. Well, what would you have me do about it? President Roosevelt has already made
1:32.4	his decision. He's sailing to Puerto Rico as we speak, and as far as I know, he's put the matter
1:36.4	behind him. Well, sir, I'm asking that you suspend the order until a proper investigation can be
1:41.2	made. Taff leans back in his chair and studies you. Suspend the order.
1:46.8	You want me to suspend an order issued by the president of the United States while he is out of the
1:51.5	country. I understand the difficulty in it, but it is an injustice. Those men have served this country,
1:57.3	only to be cast aside without so much as a trial. Taff sighs and begins rifling through
2:02.6	the papers on his desk. Well, this whole affair certainly has been controversial. I've spent
	...

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