Black Legislators Monument

Black Legislators Monument. . Fifty-two African-American men served Texas as either a state legislator, a constitutional convention delegate or both during the last half of the 19th century. These 52 individuals represented the first significant political achievement by the African-American citizens of Texas., For the most part these black public officials were youthful, in their thirties. They had occupations as farmers, ministers. mechanics, blacksmiths, or barbers. Most of the counties they represented were rural. In the Legislature, they fought for issues related to protection from violence, voting rights, education, frontier defense, the rights of laborers, economics, and railroad matters which benefited all Texans regardless of race., The Constitutional Convention of 1868-1869, included ten African-American delegates out of 90. The delegates were elected by all male citizens over the age of 21, including African-Americans. For the first time in the history of Texas, African-Americans had a voice in state government. Although other issues were discussed, the primary purpose of the convention was to frame a new constitution, which guaranteed voting rights for African-American citizens over 21. All ten of the black delegates were active on committees and presented important resolutions to the constitutional process., Following Reconstruction, the number of black legislators began to decline along with a decrease in the state's black population. By 1900, blacks in Texas numbered approximately 20 percent of the population. In 1902, the poll tax was adopted and subsequent measures aimed at disfranchising black voters and office holders led to the end of many of the gains made by the 19th century black legislators. By 1910, African- Americans were no longer a force in Texas politics., This monument is dedicated to the memory of these , 19th century civil rights pioneers.. , Portraits , Lower Left: Robert Lloyd (R.L.) Smith - 24th and 25th Legislatures , Lower Right: Nathan H. (N.H.) Haller - 23rd and 24th Legislatures, 2nd Panel , David Abner, Sr. . 14th Legislature, Richard Allen . 12th and 13th Legislatures , Edward (E./Em.) Anderson . 13th Legislature , Alexander Asberry . 21st Legislature, Houston A.P. (Pat) Bassett . 20th Legislature, Thomas Beck . 14th, 16th, and 17th Legislatures, Edward (Ed) Brown . 14th Legislature, Charles W. (C.W.) Bryant . Constitutional Delegate, 1868-69, D.W. Burley . 12th Legislature, Walter Moses (W.M.) Burton . 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th Legislatures, Silas (J./Jiles/Giles) Cotton . 12th Legislature , Stephen (S.) Curtis . Constitutional Delegate, 1868-69, Bird (B.B.) Davis . Constitutional Delegate, 1875, Goldstein Dupree . 12th Legislature, Robert (R) J Evans . 16th and 17th Legislatures , Jacob E. (J.E.) Freeman (Freman) . 14th and 16th Legislatures, Matthew (Matt) Gaines . 12th and 13th Legislatures , Harriel G. (Hal/H.G.) Geiger . 16th and 17th Legislatures , Melvin Goddin . Constitutional Delegate, 1875, Bedford (B.) A. Guy . 16th Legislature, Nathan H. (N.H.) Haller . 23rd and 24th Legislatures, Jeremiah J. (J.J.) Hamilton . 12th Legislature, William H. (W.H.) Holland . 15th Legislature, Wiley W. (W.) Johnson . Constitutional Delegate, 1868-69, Mitchell Kendall (Kendal) . Constitutional Delegate, 1868-69 . 12th Legislature, Robert A. Kerr . 17th Legislature , Doc (D.) C. Lewis . 17th Legislature, Ralph (R./Rafe) Long . Constitutional Delegate, 1868-69, Lloyd Henry (Mac) McCabe . Constitutional Delegate, 1875, James (J.) McWashington . Constitutional Delegate, 1868-69, Elias (Elius) Mayes (Mays) . 16th and 21st Legislatures, David Medlock . 12th Legislature, John Mitchell . 12th and 14th Legislatures . Constitutional Delegate, 1875, Henry Moore . 12th and 13th Legislatures, Robert (R.) J. Moore . 18th, 19th, and 20th Legislatures, Sheppard (Shepherd, Shepart, Shepard) Mullens (Mullins) . Constitutional Delegate, 1868-69 . 12th Legislature, Edward (Ed A.) Patton . 22nd Legislature, Henry Phelps . 13th Legislature, William Reynolds (Renalds) . Constitutional Delegate, 1875 , Walter E. Ripton (Ripetoe/Riptoe) . 15th and 16th Legislatures, Meshack (Shack) R. Roberts . 13th 14th and 15th Legislatures , George Thompson (GT) Ruby . Constitutional Delegate 1868-69 . 12th and 13th Legislatures, Alonzo (Andrew/A.L.) Sledge . 16th Legislature, Robert Lloyd (R.L.) Smith . 24th and 25th Legislatures, Henry Sneed (Snead) . 15th Legislature, James H. (J.H.) Stewart . 19th Legislature , James H. (J.H.) Washington . 13th Legislature, Benjamin (Ben) O. Watrous . Constitutional Delegate, 1868-69, Allen W. Wilder . 13th and 15th Legislatures , Benjamin Franklin (BF) Williams . Constitutional Delegate ,1868-69 . 12th, 16th and 19th Legislatures, Richard (R) Williams . 12th and 13th Legislatures, George W Wyatt . 18th Legislature .