List of first African-American mayors


In the 19th century in the American South during Reconstruction, African Americans began to be elected to many local offices, such as sheriff or Justice of the Peace, and some became the first African-American mayors of cities and towns. After this brief period, African Americans found themselves unable to obtain mayoral offices due to racial discrimination. In the [|1960s], they again began to be elected or appointed to mayoral positions following the achievements of the civil rights movement and passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. 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.

19th century: [|1860s] • [|1870s] • [|1880s]

20th century: 1960s • [|1970s] • [|1980s] • [|1990s]

21st century: [|2000s] • [|2010s]

See also • References

1860s

Willie B Baker, First African-American Elected Mayor of Mt.Pleasant, Tennessee.

1990s