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Progressive Party candidate Robert LaFollette (one of the very few Black
newspapers nationally to do so), and in 1928 Democrat Al Smith. It should be
noted that the Afro was not alone among Black newspapers in following an
independent policy of electoral endorsements - other newspapers occasionally
supported Democrats. The Afro, though, was among the most independent."^

Beyond presenting diverse views within Black political culture, and beyond
attempting strategic leadership in some areas, the Afro played the role of putting
forward what amounted to an organic program for the Baltimore freedom
movement. This was partly, again, reflective: the Afro reported on what the
movement was doing. Additionally, though, the Afro continued to report and
editorialize on issues after direct political action died down. It often reminded the
freedom movement of issues still to be readdressed, and challenged the movement
to take action. In this sense it can be said that there was a traditional agenda for the
Baltimore Black freedom movement and that the Afro had the key role in
formulating, carrying, and promoting this agenda. By the 1920s, the Afro
formulated this traditional agenda into seven tactical programmatic points that it
carried every issue above its t ditorials; these same seven points appeared in the
paper through the late-1930s, when some of the points were finally realized. While
the traditional agenda of the Baltimore Black freedom movement was something
larger and less clearly defined than the Afro's seven points, these seven points are
symptomatic and instructive. Enumerated under the title "What the 'AFRO' Stands
For" the seven points were:

1. Colored policemen, policewomen and firemen.

2. Colored representatives on city, county and State boards of
education.

3. Equal salaries for equal work for school teachers without regard to
color or sex.

4. Colored members of boards of State institutions where inmates are
colored.

5. The organization of labor unions among all groups of colored
workers.