Spreading Good News (Post 623 – BLACK HISTORY TUESDAY: Robert Wood, One of the First African American U. S. Mayors)

The goal of Spreading Good News is for readers to:

GET INSPIRED and/or GET MOTIVATED and/or GET INFORMED and/or GET AWE-STRUCK and/or GET A BREAK FROM ALL THE NEGATIVE NEWS and to tell readers about our good, short books and our online store.

CLICK THE “FOLLOW” BUTTON ABOVE TO RECEIVE AN E-MAIL ALERT FOR EACH NEW, DAILY POST!!

*******************************************************************

CONSTANT QUOTE

 

 

IT’S BETTER TO DIE CHASING A DREAM NEVER CAUGHT THAN TO DIE NEVER HAVING CHASED THE DREAM.  ~ Joyce Fields

******************************************************************

 

 

TEACHERS SHOULD HAVE THE HIGHEST PAY BECAUSE THEY TEACH US ALL.

~ Joyce Fields

******************************************************************

ANNOUNCING MY NEW BOOK!!  Dear Bully:  A Collection of Poems about Bullying.  I’m reading six poems from the book at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3sdKM-yl2M.

I love to read your comments!!

******************************************************************

TODAY’S BLOG

We all should know more about the contributions that African-Americans have made in the fields of science and medicine, as well as art, music, the written word, sports, and just-everyday life.

“Black History Month,” (February) is over, but I will continue Spreading Good News about Black History on what I will call “Black History Tuesday.”

I hope you enjoy this piece!

BLACK HISTORY TUESDAY:  Robert Wood, One of the First African American U. S. Mayors

Source:  The Internet

Natchez, Mississippi (circa 1870)

Robert Wood is believed to be one of the first African American mayors in the United States.  He served as mayor of Natchez, Mississippi, in the early 1870s.  Wood was born in 1844 to Susie Harris, an African American housekeeper, and Dr. Robert Wood, a white doctor from Virginia.  His parents never married, but lived side by side.  According to oral histories, Wood was never a slave and lived mostly with his father, a former mayor of Natchez himself.

Mississippi Governor James L. Alcorn appointed Robert Wood as mayor of Natchez, Mississippi, in 1869.  He later was elected mayor in 1870.  His election was part of the “Black and Tan Revolution,” a short-lived political shift in Mississippi in which citizens of Mississippi elected many African Americans to state offices between 1868 and 1875.  At its peak in 1873, half of Mississippi’s state elected officials were black.

As mayor, Wood built Natchez’s first school for African Americans in 1871.  Wood also worked closely with John R. Lynch, the Congressman representing the area during the Reconstruction era.  Both Wood and Lynch worked as printers at a Natchez printing company prior to their political careers.

After his term as mayor of Natchez, Wood served as postmaster and tax collector for the city.  In 1875 Wood was elected Sheriff of Adams County, Mississippi.

After his political work, Wood operated a store in Washington, Mississippi, a town three hours north of Natchez.  He lost much of his property during a fire in Washington.  Wood married Susan Collins and had two children, both daughters named Selma and Stella, both of whom were baptized at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Natchez, Mississippi.

The date of Robert Wood’s death is unknown.

*******************************************

Share your comment about this post.

NOTE FROM JOYCE:  If you enjoyed and/or learned from this blog, please leave a comment and send the link to others.  Thanks!!

If you’re interested in reading all about “My Breast Cancer Journey,” those posts start with post #334.

***************************************************

~ Joyce Fields

 

ADDITIONAL OFFERINGS FROM JOYCE FIELDS

Joyce is an author who has written seven books.  If you enjoy this blog, you will, undoubtedly, enjoy all her books.  Her sister, Anita, is also an author.

BE INSPIRED!  You can read about and order their books AND order merchandise from their online store at this link (or click the “BE INSPIRED!” button above):

https://lineofserenity.wordpress.com/get-more-inspiration/

Thanks for your interest AND support!!

Contact Joyce at goodshortbooks@yahoo.com.

***************************************************

SOME OF JOYCE’S FAVORITE BLOGS

I visit these blogs and leave comments regularly.  I think you will enjoy them all!

http://www.lenasledgeblog.com  Books, reviews, give-aways, interviews.

http://living4bliss.com  Believing Life Is Set up for Success (BLISS)

http://goss-coaching.com/author/gosscoaching  A professional writer and wellness coach helping people connect thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and action to create optimal health and a vibrant life.

http://www.thebirkineffect.com  Musings of a “want it all” 21st century woman.

http://www.thesweetsensations.com  A baking, entertainment, and lifestyle blog.  Fantastic recipes and food photography, too!

http://www.pennilessparenting.com  A rich life on minimum wage.  Plus fabulous, healthful recipes!

http://www.rumpydog.com  I’m a dog with a unique perspective on human life.

http://www.davidkanigan.com/  Lead.Learn.Live.  David Kanigan:  Inspiration, Ideas & Information.

http://callingoftheheart.wordpress.com  Spirituality, Psychology, and Political.

http://www.petedenton.wordpress.com  Writer of short stories, Flash fiction, and some scripts.