1913

President Woodrow Wilson, after promising Black voters fair treatment during his 1912 campaign, quickly moved to segregate the federal civil service. Treasury Secretary William McAdoo and Postmaster General Albert Burleson implemented segregated offices, cafeterias, and restrooms throughout the federal government in Washington DC. Black federal workers who had held integrated positions since Reconstruction were demoted or fired. Thousands lost their jobs. When civil rights leader Monroe Trotter confronted Wilson at the White House, Wilson dismissed him angrily. The segregation of the federal government endorsed Jim Crow at the highest level.

President Wilson moved to segregate the federal civil service after promising Black voters fair treatment during his 1912 campaign. Segregated offices, cafeterias, and restrooms were implemented throughout the federal government. Black federal workers who had held integrated positions since Reconstruction were demoted or fired. When civil rights leader Monroe Trotter confronted Wilson at the White House, Wilson dismissed him angrily.

Following Wilson's 1913 executive segregation of the federal civil service, physical segregation was installed in Treasury, Post Office, and other federal buildings in Washington DC. Black employees who had worked alongside white colleagues for decades were physically separated. Senior Black employees were demoted. The nation's capital became a more segregated city under Wilson than it had been for decades.

Following Wilson's 1913 executive segregation of the federal civil service, physical segregation was installed in Treasury, Post Office, and other federal buildings in Washington DC — separate cafeterias, bathrooms, and work areas for Black federal employees. Black employees who had worked alongside white colleagues for decades were physically separated. Senior Black employees were demoted or transferred to segregated units. Civil Service positions that had provided middle-class stability to a generation of Black Washingtonians were stripped away. The nation's capital became a more segregated city under the Democratic Wilson than it had been for decades.