Bessie A. Buchanan facts for kids

Bessie Allison Buchanan (born March 7, 1902 – died September 7, 1980) was an important figure from Manhattan, New York City. She made history as the first African-American woman to serve in the New York State Legislature. She was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1954.

Early Life and Talents

Bessie Allison Buchanan was born on March 7, 1902. Her parents, Charles and Evelyn Allison, moved to New York City from Petersburg, Virginia. Bessie grew up in New York City with her five sisters and one brother.

A Talented Singer and Dancer

From a young age, Bessie Allison loved to sing and dance. She performed in the original Shuffle Along in 1921. This was the first successful musical comedy with an all African-American cast. She also appeared in the 1925 Plantation Revue. In 1927, she was part of the cast of Lucky.

Bessie performed with the Show Boat touring company. She also recorded music for Black Swan Records. Bessie was a dancer in the famous Cotton Club chorus line. While working in Harlem, she met Charlie Buchanan, who directed the Savoy Ballroom. They married in 1929, and Bessie stopped performing on stage.

Standing Up for Fairness

After her marriage, Bessie became very active in community groups in Harlem. She was often seen at popular nightclubs. Magazines like Jet wrote about her social life.

The Stork Club Incident

In 1951, Bessie Buchanan was with entertainer Josephine Baker at the Stork Club. Josephine Baker felt she was treated unfairly and left the club. She said it was because of racism. This led to a big public discussion in the media. Many famous people took sides. Bessie Buchanan and Josephine Baker helped organize protests. They also set up a picket line to encourage people to avoid the Stork Club. This was to pressure the club to change its ways.

A Career in Politics

Bessie Buchanan became interested in politics in 1949. She helped campaign for Governor Herbert H. Lehman when he ran for the United States Senate. After Lehman won, she stayed involved with community and political groups in Harlem.

Becoming an Assemblywoman

In 1954, the Democratic Party asked her to run for the New York State Assembly. She ran for the 12th district in Harlem. This district had many Democratic voters. Bessie Buchanan easily won the election. She beat her opponent, Lucille Pickett, by a large number of votes.

Bessie was reelected three more times. She served a total of eight years in the Assembly. She was the first African-American woman ever elected to the New York State Legislature.

Serving in the Assembly

Bessie Buchanan was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1955 to 1962. She served in four different legislative sessions. While in the legislature, she worked on several important committees. These included the Cities, Institutions, Printing, and Social Welfare committees. She also joined the committee that looked into problems faced by older people.

In 1960, Governor Nelson Rockefeller chose Bessie Buchanan as a delegate. She attended the White House Conference on the Aged. In 1962, Buchanan decided not to run for reelection. Instead, she supported Republican Governor Rockefeller and Senator Jacob Javits in their reelection campaigns.

Working for Human Rights

On April 30, 1963, Governor Rockefeller appointed Bessie Buchanan to a new role. She became the New York State Commissioner of Human Rights. She held this important position for five years. In this role, she worked to protect people's rights and ensure fair treatment for everyone.

Later Years and Legacy

After leaving public office, Bessie Buchanan continued to be active in her community. She passed away in 1980 at the age of 78. She died after a short illness. Bessie Allison Buchanan is remembered for her groundbreaking achievements. She opened doors for other African-American women in politics.