Max Yergan
Encyclopedia
Max Yergan was an African American activist notable for being a Baptist missionary for the YMCA
, then a Communist
working with Paul Robeson
, and finally a staunch anti-Communist
who complimented the government of apartheid-era South Africa
for that part of their program. He was a mentor of Govan Mbeki
, who later achieved distinction in the African National Congress
. He served as the second president of the National Negro Congress
, a coalition of hundreds of African-American organizations created in 1935 by religious, labor, civic and fraternal leaders to fight racial discrimination, establish relations with black organizations throughout the world, and oppose the deportation of black immigrants. Along with Paul Robeson
, he co-founded the International Committee on African Affairs in 1937, later the Council on African Affairs
.
Dr. Yergan came to South Africa
in 1920 as a missionary for the YMCA. He was the first African American to do YMCA work in South Africa. As a YMCA activist he was interested in improving social work in the nation and this influenced the founding of the Jan H. Hofmeyr School of Social Work
. As a whole his experiences in South Africa radicalized him to the point he came to desire a more radical direction for the YMCA than it was willing to accept. After attempts to radicalize the YMCA failed he resigned from the organization in 1936 and became committed to Marxism
.
On his return to the United States
Dr. Yergan became the first African-American faculty member ever hired at one of New York City's public colleges, City College of New York
, teaching the course "Negro History and Culture" in the fall of 1937. It was the first time this course was offered within the City Colleges of New York. During the Rapp-Coudert hearings, informers reported that his class was "liberal and progressive." Dr. Yergan was denied re-appointment and dismissed for his politics.
The Cold War
led him to become disillusioned with Communism and ultimately to become strongly hostile to Communism. In 1952 he spoke against Communism on a visit to South Africa and in 1964 he praised aspects of the South African governments "separate development" plan. In the last decade of life he co-chaired the conservative "American-African Affairs Association."
Yergan was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity.
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, then a Communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
working with Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
, and finally a staunch anti-Communist
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
who complimented the government of apartheid-era South Africa
History of South Africa in the apartheid era
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation enforced by the National Party governments of South Africa between 1948 and 1994, under which the rights of the majority 'non-white' inhabitants of South Africa were curtailed and white supremacy and Afrikaner minority rule was maintained...
for that part of their program. He was a mentor of Govan Mbeki
Govan Mbeki
Govan Archibald Mvuyelwa Mbeki was a South African politician, and father of the former South African president Thabo Mbeki and political economist Moeletsi Mbeki...
, who later achieved distinction in the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
. He served as the second president of the National Negro Congress
National Negro Congress
The National Negro Congress is an organization which was put into place by the Communist Party of the United States of America in 1935 at Howard University. It was a popular front organization created with the goal of fighting for Black liberation and was the successor to the League of Struggle for...
, a coalition of hundreds of African-American organizations created in 1935 by religious, labor, civic and fraternal leaders to fight racial discrimination, establish relations with black organizations throughout the world, and oppose the deportation of black immigrants. Along with Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
, he co-founded the International Committee on African Affairs in 1937, later the Council on African Affairs
Council on African Affairs
The Council on African Affairs , until 1941 called the International Committee on African Affairs , was a volunteer organization founded in 1937. It emerged as the leading voice of anti-colonialism and Pan-Africanism in the United States and internationally before Cold War anti-communism and...
.
Dr. Yergan came to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1920 as a missionary for the YMCA. He was the first African American to do YMCA work in South Africa. As a YMCA activist he was interested in improving social work in the nation and this influenced the founding of the Jan H. Hofmeyr School of Social Work
Jan H. Hofmeyr School of Social Work
The Jan H. Hofmeyr School of Social Work was the first institution to train black social workers in South Africa.- History :The Jan H. Hofmeyr School of Social Work started operating on January 15, 1941 in Eloff Street, Johannesburg, under directorship of Congregational minister Rev. Ray Phillips...
. As a whole his experiences in South Africa radicalized him to the point he came to desire a more radical direction for the YMCA than it was willing to accept. After attempts to radicalize the YMCA failed he resigned from the organization in 1936 and became committed to Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
.
On his return to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Dr. Yergan became the first African-American faculty member ever hired at one of New York City's public colleges, City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
, teaching the course "Negro History and Culture" in the fall of 1937. It was the first time this course was offered within the City Colleges of New York. During the Rapp-Coudert hearings, informers reported that his class was "liberal and progressive." Dr. Yergan was denied re-appointment and dismissed for his politics.
The Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
led him to become disillusioned with Communism and ultimately to become strongly hostile to Communism. In 1952 he spoke against Communism on a visit to South Africa and in 1964 he praised aspects of the South African governments "separate development" plan. In the last decade of life he co-chaired the conservative "American-African Affairs Association."
Yergan was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity.
Sources
- David Henry Anthony, Max Yergan: Race Man, Internationalist, Cold Warrior,, 2006. ISBN 0814707041
- David Henry Anthony, "Max Yergan, Marxism and Mission during the Interwar Era in South Africa", Social Sciences and Missions (Leiden: Brill), no.22/2, 2009, pp.257-291