Abolition and civil rights define Black political activity in 19th and 20th century Syracuse

African Americans have been active in Syracuse’s political scene since its earliest days in the 1840’s, but it was another 120 years or so before the first African American was elected to office. We explore this topic as part of Thursday’s Syracuse Speaks Black History Month special.             Curator of History at the Onondaga Historical Association Robert Searing says African American political activity in the mid-19th century was largely connected to abolition. “At the center of that is, is the Reverend Jermain Loguen who will become a member of the Liberty Party in the 1840s,” Searing said. “The Liberty Party, for those who aren’t aware is really a small, very radical political party that forms in the 1840s and they are committed to the immediate uncompensated abolition of slaves.” Searing says this activity coincided with numerous state party conventions held in Syracuse because of its central geographic location. But Searing says it would be a century-long struggle until the civil rights movement began to embolden candidates to run for and win elective office. “You have a you have a ton of political activity, you have a ton of political organization, but you don’t necessarily have that same success electorally,” Searing said....