California State Convention of Colored Citizens facts for kids
| Date | November 20, 1855 – December 31, 1902 |
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| Location | Various cities, California, U.S. |
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The California State Convention of Colored Citizens (CSCCC) was a series of important meetings. These meetings took place in California from 1855 to 1902. They were part of a larger movement across the United States. This movement was called the Colored Conventions Movement. It worked for equal rights for African Americans.
Contents
What the Conventions Were About
These events brought together many people and groups. Important leaders like Peter Lester, Mifflin Wistar Gibbs, and Jeremiah Burke Sanderson attended. Churches, literary societies, and social groups from all over California also joined.
The main goals of these meetings were:
- To help end slavery.
- To gain the right for Black people to speak in court. This was called "Black testimony."
- To get voting rights for Black men.
- To make sure Black people could go to public schools.
- To ensure Black people could use public places, like hotels and restaurants.
History of the Meetings
First Meeting: 1855 Sacramento
The very first CSCCC meeting happened in Sacramento. It was held from November 20 to 22, 1855. The meeting took place at Saint Andrews A.M.E. Church.
There were 49 delegates at this first event. They came from 10 different counties in California. After this meeting, a newspaper called Mirror of the Times was started. It was an African American weekly newspaper in San Francisco. The CSCCC helped pay for this newspaper.
Second Meeting: 1856 Sacramento
The second CSCCC meeting was also in Sacramento. It happened from December 9 to 12, 1856. It was held at the same St. Andrews A.M.E. Church.
This meeting took place after the American Civil War had ended. California's Governor Leland Stanford had also removed a ban. This ban had stopped Black people from speaking in court.
Third Meeting: 1857 San Francisco
The third CSCCC meeting was held in San Francisco. It started on October 13, 1857. This meeting took place at St. Cyprian's African Methodist Episcopal Church. Reverend Thomas Marcus Decatur Ward led this church.
Meeting in 1865: Sacramento
Another important CSCCC meeting was held in Sacramento. It started on December 11, 1865. At this meeting, they made a decision. They wanted to raise money to help fund schools for Black students. At that time, there was only one high school in California that accepted Black students. It was called the Phoenixonian Institute in San Jose. Reverend Peter William Cassey helped organize this 1865 meeting.
List of Convention Events
- 1855 California State Convention of Colored Citizens, Sacramento
- 1856 California State Convention of Colored Citizens, Sacramento
- 1857 California State Convention of Colored People, San Francisco
- 1863 California State Convention of Colored People, San Jose
- 1865 California State Convention of Colored Citizens, Sacramento
- 1880 California State Convention of Colored People, San Francisco
- 1889 State Convention of the California Afro-American League
- 1902 State Convention of the California Afro-American League, Oakland
See also
