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List of first African-American mayors facts for kids

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The first African-American mayors were elected during Reconstruction in the Southern United States beginning about 1867. African Americans in the South were also elected to many local offices, such as sheriff and Justice of the Peace, and state offices such as legislatures as well as a smaller number of federal offices. After this period ended in 1876, it became increasingly difficult for African Americans to compete in elections due to racial discrimination, such as Jim Crow laws. After the end of the 19th century, it generally was not until the 1960s, following the civil rights movement and passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, that they again began to be elected or appointed to mayoral positions. Achievements in African Americans' being elected mayor in majority-European American and other municipalities made their political participation one of daily life in many localities.

In 1970, there were fewer than 50 African American mayors; by 1982, there were 205. Lelia Foley was the first African American woman elected mayor in the United States. In 1986, the first African-American women mayors were elected to major mid-size cities.

1860s

1867

1868

1869

1870s

1870

1878

  • First African American to be elected to serve as mayor in the state of New York: Edward "Ned" Sherman, Cleveland, New York

1880s

1887

1888

1899

1900s

1905

1910s

1918

1920s

1926

  • Lawnside, New Jersey became a self-governing community in 1926 and has elected African-American mayors since its inception.

1960s

1964

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970s

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980s

1980

1981

1982

  • First African American to succeed to the office of mayor of Memphis, Tennessee after the resignation of his predecessor: J.O. Patterson, Jr.
  • First African-American mayor of Teaneck, New Jersey: Bernard E. Brooks
  • First female African-American mayor in the state of Florida and first female mayor of Opa-locka, Florida: Helen L. Miller

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990s

1990

1991

1992

1993

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

  • First African-American mayor of Pineville, Louisiana: Clarence R. Fields (became interim mayor in 1999; was elected to a partial term in 2000 and re-elected to full terms in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014)
  • First African-American mayor of Elyria, Ohio: Thomas O. Shores
  • First African-American mayor of Forest Park, Ohio: Stephanie Summerow Dumas

2000s

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010s

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020s

2020

2021

2022

2023

See also

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List of first African-American mayors Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.