State's Black Caucus To Honor Republican Legislator A. C. Hamlin's Place In History
The state's Black Caucus, composed mostly of Democrats, will honor the late Republican House member A. C. Hamlin on May 5th.
Hamlin, the Oklahoma Historical Society record shows, was the first African American elected to the Oklahoma Legislature, winning office in 1908. He was the only black to serve until 1964.
Born in Topeka, Kansas, A. C. was the son of Andrew Jackson and Fanny Hamlin, former slaves from Tennessee who had migrated to Kansas in 1880. The family moved to Logan County, Oklahoma Territory, in 1890. After his father's death in 1891, A. C. stayed on the Logan County farm and married Katie Weaver in 1899. The couple had five children.
Hamlin served on the local school board and was a trustee of Springvale Township where his family lived. He won the legislative seat by a two-to-one margin in the prominently African American Third District of Logan County (the county was one-quarter black in 1900) but lost his bid for reelection in 1910.
His defeat was a direct result of a Democrat-sponsored constitutional amendment that essentially prevented most blacks from voting.
The "grandfather clause" stated that "no person shall be registered as an elector in this state, or be allowed to vote in any election held herein, unless he be able to read and write any section of the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma." It also prevented anyone from voting unless that person had voted before January 1, 1866, or was a direct descendent of someone who could vote on that date. This was done by amendment, as in 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt would not sign any proposed Oklahoma constitution if it contained provisions that restricted voting based on race.
As a Republican, Hamlin was in the minority party; however, he was able to sponsor legislation for the appropriation of thirty-five thousand dollars for Taft School, a black school for deaf, blind, or orphaned children. The Black Caucus this week encouraged Oklahomans to mark their calendars for Tuesday, May 5 so they can attend "this important and historical event" honoring Hamlin and others. Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City and Caucus chairman, said, “This will be the 18th Biennial Banquet named in honor of A.C. Hamlin, the first African American ever elected to the State of Oklahoma Legislature in 1908. The A.C. Hamlin Awards dinner was established to honor people in the State that have made extraordinary efforts to advance the agenda of the Black Caucus or serve their communities. Some of the past award winners are former Senator Cal Hobson, Russell Perry, Jim Goodwin, Pastor J.A. Reed, Albert Johnson, and former State Senator Stratton Taylor just to name a few." The banquet will be hosted at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. The evening will begin with an opening reception at 6 p.m. followed by a dinner and an award ceremony at 7 p.m. Rep. Jabar Shumate (D-Tulsa and Black Caucus chair-elect) is this year’s event coordinator and will be planning the program. “I am excited about what is in store for our guests this year,” said Shumate. “Our state has been privileged to have African American legislators serving in the Legislature since statehood, and this event gives us an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of our predecessors. Also it gives us the occasion to honor citizen in our state that have made a significant contribution."
Hamlin, the Oklahoma Historical Society record shows, was the first African American elected to the Oklahoma Legislature, winning office in 1908. He was the only black to serve until 1964.
Born in Topeka, Kansas, A. C. was the son of Andrew Jackson and Fanny Hamlin, former slaves from Tennessee who had migrated to Kansas in 1880. The family moved to Logan County, Oklahoma Territory, in 1890. After his father's death in 1891, A. C. stayed on the Logan County farm and married Katie Weaver in 1899. The couple had five children.
Hamlin served on the local school board and was a trustee of Springvale Township where his family lived. He won the legislative seat by a two-to-one margin in the prominently African American Third District of Logan County (the county was one-quarter black in 1900) but lost his bid for reelection in 1910.
His defeat was a direct result of a Democrat-sponsored constitutional amendment that essentially prevented most blacks from voting.
The "grandfather clause" stated that "no person shall be registered as an elector in this state, or be allowed to vote in any election held herein, unless he be able to read and write any section of the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma." It also prevented anyone from voting unless that person had voted before January 1, 1866, or was a direct descendent of someone who could vote on that date. This was done by amendment, as in 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt would not sign any proposed Oklahoma constitution if it contained provisions that restricted voting based on race.
As a Republican, Hamlin was in the minority party; however, he was able to sponsor legislation for the appropriation of thirty-five thousand dollars for Taft School, a black school for deaf, blind, or orphaned children. The Black Caucus this week encouraged Oklahomans to mark their calendars for Tuesday, May 5 so they can attend "this important and historical event" honoring Hamlin and others. Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City and Caucus chairman, said, “This will be the 18th Biennial Banquet named in honor of A.C. Hamlin, the first African American ever elected to the State of Oklahoma Legislature in 1908. The A.C. Hamlin Awards dinner was established to honor people in the State that have made extraordinary efforts to advance the agenda of the Black Caucus or serve their communities. Some of the past award winners are former Senator Cal Hobson, Russell Perry, Jim Goodwin, Pastor J.A. Reed, Albert Johnson, and former State Senator Stratton Taylor just to name a few." The banquet will be hosted at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. The evening will begin with an opening reception at 6 p.m. followed by a dinner and an award ceremony at 7 p.m. Rep. Jabar Shumate (D-Tulsa and Black Caucus chair-elect) is this year’s event coordinator and will be planning the program. “I am excited about what is in store for our guests this year,” said Shumate. “Our state has been privileged to have African American legislators serving in the Legislature since statehood, and this event gives us an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of our predecessors. Also it gives us the occasion to honor citizen in our state that have made a significant contribution."
Labels: A. C. Hamlin, Jabar Shumate, Mike Shelton
posted by Mike McCarville @ 4:04 PM
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