Black Presidential Candidates in United States History
The journey of Black individuals seeking the highest office in the United States is a reflection of the nation's broader struggle with race, civil rights, and political representation. From the early 20th century, characterized by systemic oppression, to the modern era of primary campaigns, these candidates have challenged the political status quo and expanded the boundaries of American democracy.
The Early 20th Century: George Edwin Taylor
At the turn of the century, the United States reached a nadir in race relations. White Southern Democrats were implementing Jim Crow laws—state and local laws that enforced racial segregation—and enacting constitutional changes to disfranchise Black voters. During this time, scientific racism was gaining traction among intellectuals, and lynching remained a prevalent threat in the South.
George Edwin Taylor, who served two terms as president of the National Negro Democratic League, eventually found the Democratic Party unable or unwilling to curb the excesses of its Southern wing. This disillusionment, coupled with internal party debates over whether to link the national currency to silver as well as gold, led Taylor to seek a new political path.
In 1904, Taylor was nominated for president by the National Negro Liberty Party. This organization evolved from the Ex-Slave Petitioners’ Assembly (founded in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1897), which initially sought pensions for former slaves. By 1903, the group had expanded its platform to oppose lynching, disfranchisement, anti-imperialism, and scientific racism, moving its headquarters to Chicago to follow the wave of Black migrants moving North.
The party's 1904 convention in St. Louis originally nominated "Col." William Thomas Scott and William C. Payne. However, after Scott was jailed for an unpaid fine from 1901, the executive committee turned to Taylor. His campaign faced insurmountable hurdles: no newspapers endorsed him, state laws prevented his name from appearing on official ballots, and the party lacked the infrastructure to field a significant number of local candidates. While William Scott later estimated the party received 65,000 votes, these figures were never officially recorded.
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Mid-Century Shifts and the Civil Rights Era
As the civil rights movement gained momentum in the 1960s, Black leaders began to make inroads within the major political parties. At the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Channing E. Phillips, a minister and civil rights leader, received 67.5 nomination votes for president.
The same convention saw a historic moment for the vice presidency. Julian Bond became the first African American nominated for vice president by a major party. However, Bond was forced to withdraw because he did not meet the constitutional age requirement of 35.
Breaking Barriers: Shirley Chisholm and Jesse Jackson
In 1972, Shirley Chisholm, a Barbadian-American Congresswoman from New York, made history as the first Black candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination and the first woman to run for the nomination of a major party. Chisholm campaigned in 12 states and secured 28 delegates through the primaries, eventually reaching a total of 152 delegates at the Democratic National Convention.
By the 1980s, Jesse Jackson expanded the reach of Black candidates by running nationwide primary campaigns. Competing as a Democrat in 1984 and 1988, Jackson became the first major-party Black candidate to win individual state primaries or caucuses. His efforts garnered significant support, with approximately 3 million primary votes in 1984 and 7 million in 1988.
Republican Party Representation: Alan Keyes
The pursuit of the presidency also extended to the Republican Party. In 1992, Alan Keyes received a vote for the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention, though he was primarily focused on his run for the U.S. Senate in Maryland that year. In 1996, Keyes became the first African American to run in the Republican presidential primaries, although he did not win any state primary or caucus.
Key Facts
- George Edwin Taylor was the first major Black candidate for president (1904) via the National Negro Liberty Party.
- Shirley Chisholm was the first Black candidate for a major party nomination and the first woman to seek the Democratic nomination (1972).
- Jesse Jackson was the first major-party Black candidate to win state primaries or caucuses (1984, 1988).
- Alan Keyes was the first African American to run in the Republican presidential primaries (1996).
- Julian Bond was the first African American nominated for vice president by a major party (1968), though he was ineligible due to age.
| Candidate | Year(s) | Party | Key Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Edwin Taylor | 1904 | National Negro Liberty Party | Early 20th-century third-party candidacy |
| Channing E. Phillips | 1968 | Democratic | Nominated at the National Convention |
| Shirley Chisholm | 1972 | Democratic | First Black woman to run for a major party nomination |
| Jesse Jackson | 1984, 1988 | Democratic | First to win state primaries/caucuses |
| Alan Keyes | 1996 | Republican | First African American in Republican primaries |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first Black person to run for President of the United States?
George Edwin Taylor ran for president in 1904 as the candidate for the National Negro Liberty Party.
Why was Julian Bond unable to serve as vice president in 1968?
Although he was nominated by a major party, Julian Bond was ineligible for the office because he was under the constitutionally required age of 35.
What was the significance of Shirley Chisholm's 1972 campaign?
Shirley Chisholm was the first Black candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination and the first woman to run for the nomination of a major party.
How did Jesse Jackson's campaigns differ from previous candidates?
Jesse Jackson was the first major-party Black candidate to conduct nationwide primary campaigns and successfully win individual state primaries or caucuses.
Who was the first African American to run in the Republican presidential primaries?
Alan Keyes became the first African American to run in the Republican presidential primaries in 1996.