List of first African-American mayors

The first African American mayors were elected during Reconstruction in the Southern United States beginning about 1867. African Americans in the South were also elected to many local offices, such as sheriff or Justice of the Peace, and state offices such as legislatures as well as a smaller number to Federal offices. After this period ended in 1876, white supremacists and a resurgent Democrst Party made it increasingly difficult for African Americans to compete in elections due to racial discrimination such as Jim Crow laws. After the end of the 19th century it generally was not until the 1960s, they again began to be elected or appointed to mayoral positions following the achievements of the civil rights movement and passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. Achievements in African Americans' being elected mayor in majority-European American and other municipalities made their political participation one of daily life in many localities.