The United States Government refused to seat P. B. S. Pinchback, elected Senator from Louisiana. He was the first non-white and first person of African American descent to become governor of a U.S. state. A Republican, he served as the 24th Governor of Louisiana for 35 days, from December 9, 1872, to January 13, 1873.
"In 1863, during the Civil War, Pinchback traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, and recruited African-American volunteers for the Union Army. He became captain of Company A, 1st Louisiana Native Guards (later reformed as the 73rd U. S. Colored Infantry Regiment). He resigned his commission because of racial prejudice against black officers.
After the war, Pinchback returned to New Orleans and became active in the Republican Party, participating in Reconstruction state conventions. In 1868, he organized the Fourth Ward Republican Club in New Orleans. That same year, he was elected as a State Senator, where he became senate president pro tempore of a Legislature that included 42 representatives of African American descent (half of the chamber, and seven of 36 seats in the Senate). In 1871 he became acting lieutenant governor upon the death of Oscar Dunn, the first elected African-American lieutenant governor of a U.S. state.
In 1872, the incumbent Republican governor Henry Clay Warmoth, suffered impeachment charges near the end of his term. State law required that Warmoth step aside until convicted or cleared of the charges. Pinchback, as lieutenant governor, succeeded as governor on December 9 and served for 35 days until the end of Warmoth's term. Warmoth was not convicted and the charges were eventually dropped.
Pinchback became the recipient of vicious hate mail from across the country as well as more local threats on his own life.
Also in 1872, at a national convention of African-American politicians, Pinchback had a public disagreement with Jeremiah Haralson of Alabama. James T. Rapier (also of Alabama) submitted a motion that the convention condemn all Republicans who had opposed President Grant in that year's election.[3] Haralson supported the motion, but Pinchback opposed it because it would include Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, a lifelong anti-slavery fighter whom Pinchback believed African-Americans should laud.
After his brief governorship, Pinchback remained active in politics and public service. In the elections of 1874 and 1876, Pinchback was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and then the U.S. Senate respectively, another pioneering accomplishment as the state's first African American representative to Washington. Both elections were contested, and his Democratic opponents were seated instead. It was the beginning of a reversal of the political gains African Americans had achieved since the war's end.
Pinchback served on the Louisiana State Board of Education and was instrumental in establishing Southern University, a historically black college, in New Orleans in 1880. It relocated to Baton Rouge in 1914.[4] He was a member of Southern University's Board of Trustees (later redesignated the Board of Supervisors).
In 1882, Republican President Chester Arthur appointed Pinchback as Surveyor of Customs in New Orleans. In 1885, he studied law at Straight University, which later became Dillard University, in New Orleans. He was admitted to the Louisiana bar in 1886. He was part of the Comité des Citoyens (Citizens' Committee) which in 1892 staged the New Orleans civil-rights actions of Homer Plessy which led to the U.S. Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson (legalizing racial segregation). Later Pinchback moved to New York City and worked as a Marshal. Finally he moved to Washington, D.C., where he practiced law.
Pinchback died in Washington in 1921 and is interred in Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans. His service as governor helped him to be interred there although the cemetery was segregated and reserved for whites."
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P.B.S._Pinchback
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Today in Black History: February 21,1965
Today in 1965, one of the most influential black leaders, Malcolm X was assassinated in New York City at the Audubon Ballroom while speaking to the Organization of Afro-American Unity.
"Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19th, 1925. By the time he was thirteen, his father had died and his mother had been committed to a mental hospital. His childhood, including his father's lessons concerning black pride and self-reliance and his own experiences concerning race, played a significant role in Malcolm X's adult life. After living in a series of foster homes, Malcolm X became involved in hustling and other criminal activities in Boston and New York. In 1946, Malcolm X was sentenced to eight to ten years in prison.
While in prison, Malcolm X became a member of the Nation of Islam. After his parole in 1952, he became one of the Nation's leaders and chief spokesmen. For nearly a dozen years, he was the public face of the Nation of Islam. Tension between Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, head of the Nation of Islam, led to Malcolm X's departure from the organization in March 1964.
After leaving the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X became a Sunni Muslim and made a pilgrimage to Mecca, after which he disavowed racism. He traveled extensively throughout Africa and the Middle East. He founded Muslim Mosque, Inc., a religious organization, and the secular, black nationalist Organization of Afro-American Unity. Less than a year after he left the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X was assassinated while giving a speech in New York."
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X
"Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska on May 19th, 1925. By the time he was thirteen, his father had died and his mother had been committed to a mental hospital. His childhood, including his father's lessons concerning black pride and self-reliance and his own experiences concerning race, played a significant role in Malcolm X's adult life. After living in a series of foster homes, Malcolm X became involved in hustling and other criminal activities in Boston and New York. In 1946, Malcolm X was sentenced to eight to ten years in prison.
While in prison, Malcolm X became a member of the Nation of Islam. After his parole in 1952, he became one of the Nation's leaders and chief spokesmen. For nearly a dozen years, he was the public face of the Nation of Islam. Tension between Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, head of the Nation of Islam, led to Malcolm X's departure from the organization in March 1964.
After leaving the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X became a Sunni Muslim and made a pilgrimage to Mecca, after which he disavowed racism. He traveled extensively throughout Africa and the Middle East. He founded Muslim Mosque, Inc., a religious organization, and the secular, black nationalist Organization of Afro-American Unity. Less than a year after he left the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X was assassinated while giving a speech in New York."
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Today in Black History: Feb. 17, 1867
Today in 1867, 2 years after the ending of the Civil War, the Augusta Institute was founded in Augusta, GA by William Jefferson White, Rev. Richard C. Coulter & Rev. Edmund Turney. Located in the Springfield Baptiste Church, the oldest black church in the US, to educate African-American men in theology & education. 12 years later in 1879, the institute moved it's location to Atlanta, GA and changed it's name to Atlanta Baptiste Seminary. In 1885, under the leadership of it's second president, Dr. Samuel T. Graves, Atlanta Seminary moved to land donated by John D. Rockerfeller, to it's present location in Atlanta, GA. 1890 Dr. George Sale became the seminary’s third president, and in 1897 the school was renamed Atlanta Baptist College.
"In 1906 Dr. John Hope became the first African-American president and led the institution’s growth in enrollment and academic stature. [1] He envisioned an academically rigorous college that would be the antithesis to Booker T. Washington’s view of agricultural and trade-focused education for African-Americans. In 1913, the seminary was renamed Morehouse College, in honor of Henry L. Morehouse, corresponding secretary of the Northern Baptist Home Missions Society. [1] Morehouse entered into a cooperative agreement with Clark College and Spelman College in 1929 and later expanded the association to form the Atlanta University Center.[1]
Dr. Samuel H. Archer became the fifth president of the college in 1931 and selected the school colors (maroon and white) to reflect his own alma mater, Colgate University. Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays became president in 1940.[1] Mays, who would be a mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr., presided over the growth in international enrollment and reputation. During the 1960s, Morehouse students were actively involved in the civil rights movement in Atlanta.[1] Mays’ speeches were instrumental in shaping the personal development of Morehouse students during his tenure.
In 1967, Dr. Hugh M. Gloster became the seventh president. The following year, the college’s Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society was founded. In 1975, Dr. Gloster established the Morehouse School of Medicine, which became independent from Morehouse College in 1981." (source: wikipedia)
"In 1906 Dr. John Hope became the first African-American president and led the institution’s growth in enrollment and academic stature. [1] He envisioned an academically rigorous college that would be the antithesis to Booker T. Washington’s view of agricultural and trade-focused education for African-Americans. In 1913, the seminary was renamed Morehouse College, in honor of Henry L. Morehouse, corresponding secretary of the Northern Baptist Home Missions Society. [1] Morehouse entered into a cooperative agreement with Clark College and Spelman College in 1929 and later expanded the association to form the Atlanta University Center.[1]
Dr. Samuel H. Archer became the fifth president of the college in 1931 and selected the school colors (maroon and white) to reflect his own alma mater, Colgate University. Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays became president in 1940.[1] Mays, who would be a mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr., presided over the growth in international enrollment and reputation. During the 1960s, Morehouse students were actively involved in the civil rights movement in Atlanta.[1] Mays’ speeches were instrumental in shaping the personal development of Morehouse students during his tenure.
In 1967, Dr. Hugh M. Gloster became the seventh president. The following year, the college’s Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society was founded. In 1975, Dr. Gloster established the Morehouse School of Medicine, which became independent from Morehouse College in 1981." (source: wikipedia)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)