The first African American mayors were elected during Reconstruction in the southern states beginning in 1867. Nine years later, white supremacists and a resurgent Democratic Party made it difficult for African Americans to vote in elections due to racial discrimination, such as Jim Crow Laws. But due to the civil rights movement and passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and … [Read more...] about Saluting America’s Black Male Mayors
African American Mayors
Tishaura Jones elected St. Louis’ first Black female mayor
Tishaura Jones on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, was elected mayor of St. Louis and will become the city's first Black woman to hold that office after running on a progressive platform and a promise to reform and revitalize the city. Jones, the city's treasurer, beat Alderwoman Cara Spencer by 2,280 votes, according to the final unofficial election results posted online by the … [Read more...] about Tishaura Jones elected St. Louis’ first Black female mayor
The History of Our First African American Mayors
By Tann vom Hove, Senior Fellow, City Mayors Research* Black Americans have become instrumental in US local government December 2020: It is thought that America’s first elected black mayors were Pierre Caliste Landry from Donaldsonville in southern Louisiana and Stephen Swails from Kingstree, South Carolina. Both men were elected in 1868, the year the 14th amendment … [Read more...] about The History of Our First African American Mayors