Local Strides made for Civil Rights
Story Created:
Oct 29, 2008 at 5:43 PM EST
Story Updated:
Oct 29, 2008 at 5:43 PM EST
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, and Republican vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin are running historic campaigns.
Neither candidate would be in their respective positions without the strides made during the women's suffrage or civil rights movements. The Mohawk Valley lent a hand in both movements.
In the 1830's nearly 130 years before schools nationwide were legally integrated, black students were already taking classes in Whitesboro.
The Oneida Institute of Science and Technology combined manual labor with academics and enrolled black students according to record from the Oneida County Historical Society.
In 1870 the 15th amendment gave African American men the right to vote but Jim Crow laws prevented it in many states. That ended in 1965 with the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
"It opens up an attitude about public service and also African American involvement in public service in districts they had not had influence in before," Dr. Paul Young, an African American studies expert at Utica College.
In the 1970's black political activity began to pick up steam. Everett Holmes was elected mayor of Bridgewater, a small village in Oneida County. Holmes became the first black mayor in New York State according historians and village officials.
In 1983, David Mathis became the first black man to hold office in Utica.
Mathis served on the school board until 1988.
Following Mathis in the political ranks was Steve Taylor in 1990.
Mathis was surprised by the support he received by white voters in East and South Utica.
"There were many who even though it was less than 20 years from civil rights who were willing to go into the level and pull it for a black person," Mathis said.
Historians and politicians said the work done locally to further civil rights was significant but feel that young minorities in Central New York should get involved politically.
They feel the NAACP, church and civic groups should help encourage political involvement for the next generation of representatives.
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