voting rights

Vote for your friends and defeat your enemies.

My guess is that Rev. Richard A.G. Foster knew that Wilson was a stepping-stone, that he would not be in town long, that the A.M.E. Zion itineracy system, if nothing else, would roll him out before his civil rights zealotry ignited a retaliatory spark.

Also, he was financially insulated in a way that other local ministers were not. The church paid a decent salary and provided housing, so he had no need to work a supplemental, or even primary, job that could be boycotted or threatened.

Thus, Foster jumped into Wilson in late 1936 with both feet and, over the next three-and-a-half years, engineered election strategy, nurtured youth development, raised funds for investigations of police slayings, fought for better schools, and demanded integration.

Chicago Defender, 18 June 1938.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 1 October 1938.

An important correction.

Wilson Daily Times, 19 May 1936.

By early 1936, J.D. Reid had been out of prison a little over four years for his part in the Commercial Bank scandal, which may have fueled this hasty correction. Also, he had moved to Washington, D.C., where he found federal work as a messenger for the office of the U.S. Speaker of the House.

——

The streets of East Wilson.

Over the course of two days in October 1982, Jim Peppler took nearly 300 photographs in Wilson on behalf of the N.A.A.C.P. Legal Defense Fund. Peppler was on hand to document the fight by African-American citizens to secure representation on the Wilson County Board of Commissioners in Robert D. Haskins et al. v. The County of Wilson, North Carolina, et al. Though his photos were taken decades after the period covered in Black Wide-Awake, several of his streetscapes would have been more familiar to a Wilsonian of 1945 than of 2025, and I share them here.

  • the 500 block of East Nash Street, looking west

This block is nearly unrecognizable now. The three-story building at right is the Odd Fellows building, built in 1894 by Samuel H. Vick.

  • A street off Maury Street, looking toward the railroad

This unpaved lane — in 1982! — is most likely Gay Street. Can anyone confirm?

  • Ash Street, looking toward Darden Alley

All the houses on the west side of Ash Street are long gone. Though vacant, most of the houses on the east remain. The shrubbery, however, has disappeared. The sign midway down the block marked the site of Calvary Holy Church (at 118 Ash Street, a building now housing Antioch Outreach Church Ministries.)

This and related images are mislabeled “Ash Street” in the collection. Instead, they are scenes of Church Street, which runs for only one block, parallel to Nash Street. Only three houses remain on the street, all now abandoned.

Church Street today, per Google Maps Streetview.

Top: plaintiffs Jasper E. Williams, Roy Atkinson, Milton F. Fitch Sr., Roland Edwards, and Rev. Talmage A. Watkins. Bottom: attorney G.K. Butterfield Jr., lead plaintiff Robert D. Haskins, attorney Milton F. “Toby” Fitch Jr.

Peppler, Jim, “Photographs of plaintiffs and cooperating attorneys for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) who participated in the legal case Haskins v. County of Wilson in Wilson, North Carolina,” 1982-10-09/1982-10-10, Alabama Department of Archives and History, http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/ref/collection/photo/id/37888.

 

Young Dems speak.

Wilson Daily Times, 17 January 1941.

In an era in which few African-Americans could qualify to vote in North Carolina, the Democratic Club of Wilson made a bold statement of its principles, “knowing full well the equality of all votes.” The club’s members were young men who worked in the service industry. 

  • Willie Rious
  • Howard Barnes
  • Arthur Goodman — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Ed Goodman, 45; wife Annie, 36; and children James, 20, Arthur, 19, Helen, 14, Annie Mae, 12, Gladys, 11, Isiah, 7, Dorthy, 6, and Eddie Jr., 4. In 1940, Arthur Goodman registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 3 October 1920 in Manning, S.C.; lived at 1201 East Atlantic Street, Wilson; his contact was Annie Goodman, 214 South Reid Street, Wilson; and he worked for James R. Shannon, Acme Candy Company, Wilson.
  • Ben Rious — in 1940, Ben Jefon Rious registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 9 July 1919 in Lake City, Florence County, S.C.; lived at 518 Church Street, Wilson; his contact was mother Etta Rious, same address; and he worked for Avenue Gardens Florist, 202 Park Avenue, Wilson.
  • Dempsey Murphy
  • John S. Sharpe — in 1940, John Selby Sharpe registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 24 December 1916 in Wilson; lived at 911 East Green Street, Wilson; his contact was sister Nellie Jones, East Nash Street; and he worked for Briggs Hotel Company, Wilson.
  • Elmond McKeithan — in 1940, Elmond Henry McKeithan registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 5 July 1914 in Cumberland County, N.C.; lived at 539 East Nash Street, Wilson; his contact was cousin Libby McPhatter, same address; and he worked for Woodard-Herring Hospital.
  • Woodrow Wilson — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Woodrow Wilson, 21, receptionist at Briggs Hotel; daughter Evylene, 1; adopted daughter Joyce Ellis, 3; and wife Johnnie Wilson, 21. In 1940, Woodrow Wilson registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was 8 July 1918 in Pitt County, N.C.; lived at 801 East Nash Street, Wilson; his contact was wife Johnnie Bell Wilson; and he worked at the Briggs Hotel. 
  • John Mincey — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 650 Wiggins Street, plumber Benjamin Mincey, wife Mattie, 60, sons Benjamin Jr., 31, a hotel cook, and Johnnie, 21, a daily paper deliveryman, and granddaughter Deloris Woodard, 5. In 1940, John Henry Mincey registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 8 April 1919 in Wilson, resided at 650 Wiggis Street, had telephone number 3909, was employed by National Youth Administration, and his closest relative was Mrs. Mattie Mincey.
  • Charles Hines — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 303 Elba Street, Eva Hines, 50, household servant; son Charlie, 21, yard boy; and daughter Henrietta, 13, shared a household with Louis Hines Jr., 21, whiskey storage loader; wife Dolly M., 19, tobacco stemmer; and daughter Martha L., 6 months.In 1940, Charles Erwin Hines registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 28 March 1919 in Wilson; lived at 303 Elba Street; his contact was mother Eva Messick Hines; and he worked at Imperial Tobacco, Barnes and Lodge Streets. 
  • Levi Rious — in 1940, Levi Henry Rious registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 22 November 1914 in Lake City, Florence County, S.C.; lived at 518 Church Street, Wilson; his contact was mother Etta Rious, same address; and he worked for Avenue Gardens Florist, 202 Park Avenue, Wilson.
  • Charles Nelson — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Ethel Cain, 32, teacher in Stantonsburg; mother Delia Jones, 61, cook; Charles Nelson, 36, presser, and wife Mamie, 34, cook.
  • John W. Morn
  • Herbert Whitehead — In the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: widow Victoria Whitehead, 52, sewing; children James, 25, apprentice carpenter; Rosaline, 21; Herbert, 20, tobacco company floor hand; Gertrude, 16, Mabel, 14, and Victoria E., 12; and nieces Elizabeth Brodie, 32, public school teacher, and [actually, granddaughter] Joan Bynum, 6. Herbert Vendrick Whitehead registered for the World War II draft in Wilson in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 26 August 1920 in Wilson; lived at Route 4, Box 35, Wilson; his contact was Mrs. E.M. Barnes, 913 East Green Street; and he was an unemployed painter.
  • Dempsey Murphy
  • Carl Moore — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: John H. Moore, 45, cobbler in a shoe shop; wife Annie, 31, laundress; and children Lena, 11, Carl, 9, John, 7, Anna G., Odessia B., and Ruth, 1. In 1940, Carl Moore registered for the World War II draft in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per his registration card, he was born 23 January 1919 in Wilson; lived at 1516 North Opal Street, Philadelphia [crossed out and “1113 Atlantic Street, Wilson, N.C.” substituted]; his contact was mother Armincie Moore, same address, Wilson; and he was unemployed.
  • Henry Whitehead — Henry Venson Whitehead registered for the World War II draft in Wilson in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 25 July 1918 in Wilson; lived at 1300 Atlantic Street, Wilson; his contact was Gertrude Haskin, same address; and he worked for W.E. Barnes, 317 East Nash Street.
  • James Goodman — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Ed Goodman, 45; wife Annie, 36; and children James, 20, Arthur, 19, Helen, 14, Annie Mae, 12, Gladys, 11, Isiah, 7, Dorthy, 6, and Eddie Jr., 4. In 1940, James Goodman registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 11 July 1919 in Manning, S.C.; lived at 214 South Reid Street, Wilson; his contact was mother Annie Goodman, 214 South Reid Street, Wilson; and he worked for Moss & Company, Wilson.
  • Freman Power — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Charles Powell, 21; sister Irene, 19; lodger Wilson Thomas, 23; brothers Freeman, 17, and Lorenza Powell, 15; and cousin Eunice Powell, 18. In 1940, Freeman Powell registered for the World War II draft in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per his registration card, he was born 19 March 1922 in Wilson; lived at 1143 South Dorrance Street, Philadelphia; his contact was Mildred Hagans, 1912 Annin Street, Philadelphia; and he worked as a janitor for Philadelphia Housing Authority.
  • Willie Barnes
  • Jerome Tinsely — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Josephine Staton, 54, tobacco factory laborer; mother Rachel Gay, 80; daughter Martha Lee, 34, housekeeper; granddaughters Elise, 20, housekeeper, and Mae R. Taylor, 17; grandsons Jerome, 18, bowling alley laborer, and Elmer Tinsley, 16; son James Staton, 29, plumber, and his wife Lucille, 26, housekeeper; sons-in-law Bernice Lee, 34, clothes presser, and James Pike, 53, tobacco factory laborer; grandsons Robert, 3, and Herman Taylor, 14; and 1940, Jerome Tinsley registered for the World War II draft in Kings County, New York. Per his registration card, he was born 30 August 1920 in Wilson; lived at 102 Heral Street, Brooklyn, Kings County, N.Y.; his contact was Walter Tinsley, same address; and he worked for Sam Aline at a luncheonette at 62 Bristol Street, Brooklyn. 
  • Howard English — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 801 Viola, Melissa Murphy, 40, household servant, and lodger Howard English, 19, janitor at retail furniture store. In 1940, Howard Lee English registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 14 March 1917 in Wade, N.C.; lived at 801 East Viola Street, Wilson; his contact was landlady Millisa Murphy; and he worked for W.L. Walston.

Another episode in the annals of voter suppression.

Wilson Daily Times, 4 June 1930.

Thirty-nine Black voters were hauled before Wilson County elections officials after their registrations as Democrats were challenged “because they are negroes and want to vote against Simmons.” Simmons was Furnifold M. Simmons, United States Senator and Father of Black Disenfranchisement. [There is a story behind this story that is surely worth telling. Who was organizing this strategy — if in fact Black voters were changing party affiliations in an attempt to thwart Simmons’ nomination?]

Election Day 2023.

I don’t know if my grandmother voted during her decades in Wilson. Given the barriers facing African-Americans in the 1950s and the resulting very low numbers of Black registered voters, I’m inclined to believe she did not. Within months of migrating to Philadelphia, however, Hattie Henderson Ricks was on the rolls.

Get to the polls today, folks. It’s a precious right.

Registered voters’ party affiliation challenged.

Tonight at Wilson County Public Library, Meredith College professor David McClennan and I spoke about voting rights and voter suppression, past and present. I focused on the campaigns of Dr. G.K. Butterfield Sr. for a seat on Wilson’s Board of Aldermen on the 1950s, but in my outline of the struggle leading up to his election I made reference to this sorry moment in Wilson’s voting rights history.

Wilson Daily Times, 10 June 1930.

In 1930, Democrats challenged the registrations of 39 African-American voters prior to a Democratic primary. Twenty-three of those challenged showed up at a hearing in which they were forced to answer questions about their political leanings and candidate choices. 

A committee of two Democrats and a Republican, all white, reclassified these voters as Independent, disqualifying them from the primary: 

These two were determined to have Republican sympathies, and therefore more properly registered as such:

  • Robert Haskins, an insurance agent who was lead plaintiff more than 40 years later in a lawsuit to abolish at-large voting for seats on the Wilson County Commission.
  • Ada Artis, nurse.

These 19 were allowed to keep their party affiliation: 

  • S.S. Boatright — Sidney S. Boatwright, barber.
  • John A. Barnes — in the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Barnes John A (c; Sarah) lab h 739 Lipscomb rd
  • Edgar Diggs, barber.
  • Woody Farmer, barber.
  • J.E. Kennedy — Rev. John E. Kennedy, A.M.E. Zion minister.
  • W.A. Mitchner — William A. Mitchner, physician.
  • L.A. Moore — Lee A. Moore, insurance agent.
  • J.W. Peacock — Junius W. Peacock, barber. 
  • Roscoe Williams — in the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Roscoe (c; Mary) barber Oscar Williams h 1009 Queen
  • Nolly Zachary– Joe Knolly Zachary, barber.
  • Roderick Taylor, barber.
  • Boston Wellington — in the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Wellington Boston (c; Victoria) barber Chas S Thomas h 111 S Carroll
  • Sophie Artis
  • Mabel Ellis, nurse.
  • Mamie Ford, teacher.
  • Martha Haskins — probably, in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 702 East Green, Addie Haskins, 50, cook and widow, and children Martha, 20, teacher, Addie D., 19, Gladis, 19, and Nathan, 32, tobacco factory cooper. 
  • Annie Leonard — perhaps: Annie Leonard died 13 September 1943 at Mercy Hospital in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 57 years old; was born in Macon, Georgia; worked as a nurse and midwife; lived at 512 Church Street; and was buried in Rountree cemetery. 
  • Mildred Taylor
  • Ethel Hines (by proxy, her husband Bill Hines)