Flashback to February 14

American History

1872

In Louisiana, P. B. S. Pinchback becomes the first serving African-American governor of a US state

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P.B.S Pinchback, an integral figure in U.S. history, broke groundbreaking barriers on December 9th, 1872, making history as the first African-American Governor to preside in any U.S. State. The state was Louisiana, a strategically important area in the South, which was a seismic shift in the racial and sociopolitical landscape of the time. This article explores this significant event, reflecting on the implications and influence Pinchback had on civil rights and racial equality in America.

Emerging from the cataclysm that was the Civil War, America was in the throes of the Reconstruction era. A time where the previously Confederate South was readmitted to the Union, and there were attempts to redress the issues of racial discrimination and civil rights. Amid this tumultuous time, P.B.S. (Pinckney Benton Stewart) Pinchback stood tall, a beacon of hope and an emblem of progress for African Americans.

Pinchback’s inauguration as Louisiana’s Governor, occurred during a period when Southern states were forced to rewrite their constitutions. These changes allowed African American men the right to vote and hold public office for the first time in U.S. history. Thus, his Governorship marked a significant milestone in America’s path towards racial integration and equality.

Pinchback, born in Georgia and son of a former slave and a white planter, exemplified the triumph of tenacity and determination over racial discrimination. His strategic maneuverings and brave ventures into the political realm, marked a new era of racial progress. However, despite his monumental achievements, it is to our detriment that his life and accomplishments often go unnoticed in common historical discourse and education.

Pinchback, who moved his family to New Orleans following the Civil War, quickly emerged as one of the leading African American politicians in Louisiana. He served on the State Board of Education and helped establish the basis for Southern University in New Orleans, a historically black college. Throughout his political career, he used his platform to combat racial discrimination and champion the cause of equality.

His tenure as an African-American Governor was brief, lasting only 35 days. Despite being brief, his appointment caused ripples that echoed throughout the nation. It was a beacon of possibility for black leaders, encouraging many to follow in his path, igniting the nation with a spark of hope for an equal future where meritocracy could thrive, regardless of the color of one’s skin.

Advocating for the rights of African Americans, Pinchback utilized his political power to fight for educational opportunities, right to vote, and economic equality, bringing these issues to the forefront. His term in office set an undeniable precedent and spawned a progressive shift, not just in Louisiana, or the South, but across the nation, showing that African Americans could indeed govern.

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