Baseball was not Effa Manley’s only passion, she was also dedicated to advocating for Civil Rights. She lead several efforts to influence and improve societal conditions. Highlighted below are some of the efforts she lead and causes she advocated.
“Don’t buy where you can’t work”
- In the 1930’s Effa and several other women created the civil rights group, “The Citizens League for Fair Play”.
- In those days Black women were never hired as salesclerks in the stores where they shopped. The Citizens League for Fair Play decided to boycott and their message was
“Don’t buy where you can’t work.” - In 1934 with the support of churches, other organizations and businesses they boycotted one major Harlem department store.
- For six weeks Effa and others protested at the front entrance of that store. Eventually the store owner conceded. This boycott, led by Effa, eventually resulted in the hiring of Black clerks in 300 Harlem stores by the end of 1935.
NAACP Involvement
- Effa served as the Treasurer of the Newark NAACP chapter where she from time to time used the Newark Eagles’ games to benefit political causes.
- According to Leslie Heaphy, an associate professor of history at Kent State University and author of “The Negro Leagues, 1869-1960”, Effa Manley was a prominent member of the NAACP who saw baseball and Civil Rights as inextricably linked. More info on this topic, click here, please note you will leave this website.
Anti-Lynching Advocacy
- In 1939, Effa Manley hosted an anti-lynching day at New Jersey’s Ruppert Stadium. She had vendors sell buttons that read, “Stop Lynching”, for one dollar a piece. The funds raised from the sale of the buttons went to support legislation in Congress aimed at making the federal government address the horror of lynching and to pass anti-lynching laws to make it a federal crime. For more info on her efforts, click here, please note you will be leaving this website.