W. H. Rogers

W. H. Rogers
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
from the McIntosh County district
In office
1902–1907
Succeeded byF. H. McFarlane
Personal details
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
ProfessionPolitician
[1][2]

W. H. Rogers was an American politician. He was a state legislator in Georgia and was the only African-American to serve in the 99th Georgia State Assembly. He represented McIntosh County, Georgia from 1902 until 1907.[2][3]

Political career

Rogers was elected to represent McIntosh County, Georgia in the 99th Georgia State Assembly and took office in 1902.[2] He was the only African American serving in the 99th Assembly. His racist opponents launched a campaign against him using the slogan "Redeem McIntosh County."[4] He ran for re-election in 1904 and 1906, winning both elections.[5]

He resigned in 1907[6] when a bill to disenfranchise African Americans passed in Georgia's legislature.[7] It was signed in 1907 by Georgia governor Hoke Smith.[7] Rogers sent his resignation letter directly to Smith.[5][8] In 1908, the Macon Telegraph stated that Rogers would be "perhaps the last [negro] that will have had a seat in the General Assembly of Georgia."[1]

Rogers was the last African American to serve in Georgia's legislature[9] until 1963 when Leroy Johnson was elected to the Georgia Senate.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Early Law Makers Already on Scene". The Macon Telegraph. 23 June 1908. p. 1. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Legare, John Girardeau (July 1, 2012). The Darien Journal of John Girardeau Legare, Ricegrower. University of Georgia Press. ISBN 9780820343105 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Georgia at the regular session of the General Assembly at Atlanta, Wednesday, June 26, 1907 – Digital Library of Georgia".
  4. ^ Bacote, Clarence Albert (July 17, 1987). "The Negro in Georgia Politics, 1880–1908". University of Chicago – via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b Galphin, Bruce (10 May 1965). "The Last Negro State Representative". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 4. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Today in 1868, a Convention Was Held, Which Protested the Expulsion of Blacks From Georgia's State Legislature". October 6, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Grantham, Dewey W. (March 1, 1967). Hoke Smith and the Politics of the New South. LSU Press. ISBN 9780807101186 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "Negro Legislator Sends Resignation". The Macon News. 11 September 1907. p. 8. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  9. ^ Admin, Super. "Black Legislators during Reconstruction".
  10. ^ Hornsby, Alton Jr. (August 23, 2011). Black America: A State-by-State Historical Encyclopedia [2 volumes]: A State-by-State Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781573569767 – via Google Books.