George W. Murray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George W. Murray
|
|
|---|---|
Murray photographed by C. M. Bell
|
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 7th district |
|
| In office March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 |
|
| Preceded by | William Elliott |
| Succeeded by | J. William Stokes |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 1st district |
|
| In office June 4, 1896 – March 3, 1897 |
|
| Preceded by | William Elliott |
| Succeeded by | William Elliott |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Washington Murray
September 22, 1853 Sumter County, South Carolina |
| Died | April 21, 1926 (aged 72) Chicago, Illinois |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Ella |
| Alma mater | University of South Carolina |
| Profession | Teacher, politician |
George Washington Murray (born September 22, 1853 – died April 21, 1926) was an American politician, teacher, and farmer. He was born into slavery in South Carolina. After slavery ended, he worked hard to get an education.
Murray became a leader in the Republican Party in Sumter County, South Carolina. In the 1890s, he was elected to the U.S. Congress from South Carolina. He was the only African American serving in the 53rd and 54th Congresses.
Later, South Carolina passed a new constitution in 1895. This law made it very hard for African Americans to vote. Because of this, Murray was the last Republican elected from South Carolina for almost 100 years. The next Republican from the state was elected in 1980.
In 1905, Murray faced legal challenges. He said his trial was unfair because the jury was all white. He was sentenced to a difficult punishment. He then moved to Chicago, Illinois. In 1915, the South Carolina governor pardoned him. In Chicago, Murray continued to be active in politics. He gave speeches about race relations and his political journey. He also published two books of his speeches. He passed away in Chicago in 1926.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Washington Murray was born on September 22, 1853. He was born into slavery on a cotton farm near Rembert, South Carolina. His parents' names are not known. He was separated from them by the end of the Civil War. He had two brothers, Prince and Frank. Even though he didn't go to school as a young boy, he taught himself to read and write.
He became a teacher in 1871 and taught until 1874. In 1874, he started attending the University of South Carolina in Columbia. At that time, the university allowed black students to attend.
However, in 1877, the Reconstruction Era ended. White Democrats took control of the state government. They closed the university to black students. They also passed a law that only allowed white students to attend. Black students were directed to Claflin University for higher education. Murray finished his studies at the State Normal Institution in Columbia. He taught school in Sumter County for fifteen years. He also invented some new farming tools.
Family Life
Murray married a woman named Ella. They separated in 1905 when he decided to move to Chicago. He later married Cornelia Martin in Chicago in 1908. Cornelia had a daughter named Gaynell. In the 1920s, the Murrays adopted a 10-year-old boy named Donald. They also cared for many other children.
Political Career and Challenges
Murray became very active in local politics. He played an important role in the Republican Party in South Carolina. He was elected as the chairman of the Sumter County Republican Party. Murray also attended several national Republican meetings.
In 1876, white Democrats regained power in South Carolina. They passed laws to create racial segregation. They also made it harder for African Americans to register and vote. Murray and other black leaders tried to fight these changes. In 1882, a new law called the "eight-box ballot" made voting even more confusing. This law caused the number of black voters in Murray's district to drop sharply.
Murray became a leader in the Colored Farmers Alliance (CFA). This group worked to gain political support for black farmers. The CFA was part of a larger movement called Black Populism. Members often met secretly because white people opposed their efforts. Murray became a state speaker for the CFA because of his strong speaking skills.
From 1890 to 1892, Murray worked as a federal customs inspector in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1892, he was elected to the U.S. Congress. He represented South Carolina's 7th congressional district. He was known as the "Republican Black Eagle." He earned this name for a powerful speech he gave in 1893. In his speech, he spoke against a law that would remove federal inspectors from voting places. He shared his own experiences with unfair treatment while voting.
In 1894, Murray ran for Congress again in a different district. He lost the popular vote, but he challenged the election results. He showed that there were many cases of voter fraud that hurt African American citizens. It took a long time, but the case was decided in his favor. He served in the Fifty-fourth Congress from June 4, 1896, to March 3, 1897.
During this time, Murray tried to fight political problems in South Carolina. In 1895-1896, Democratic lawmakers created a new state constitution. This constitution made it almost impossible for African Americans to vote. It added rules like literacy tests, poll taxes, and property requirements. Murray and other black politicians protested these changes. They published an address asking for national support. However, the new constitution was approved. Very few African Americans could vote in the 1896 election.
In February 1897, Murray returned to Congress. He wanted a federal investigation into South Carolina's voting laws. He argued that the state should not have kept all its electoral votes in the 1896 presidential election. This was because over 100,000 black voters had been prevented from voting. However, other Republicans did not want to disrupt the election results. Murray agreed to drop his objection but continued to ask for an investigation. Congress did not act on his request.
The U.S. Supreme Court at the time ruled that these new state laws were not discriminatory. This was because they applied to all citizens. However, in reality, these laws were used to stop black voters. Across the South, states passed new constitutions that took away voting rights from African Americans. This lasted for more than 50 years. Without voting rights, black citizens could not serve on juries or run for local office. This situation only changed after federal civil rights laws were passed in the 1960s.
Murray returned to his farm. He owned land in Sumter County and rented it to black farmers. In 1903, he was accused of signing names falsely on lease agreements. He said this was related to a disagreement between tenants. He was found guilty in 1905 by an all-white jury. He was sentenced to a difficult punishment, and his appeal failed.
Life in Chicago
Instead of serving his sentence, George Murray moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1905. He believed his trial was unfair and designed to remove him from the community. His wife, Ella, did not want to move, so they separated. In 1915, the South Carolina Governor Coleman Blease pardoned Murray.
In Chicago, Murray worked selling life insurance and real estate. He became active in the Illinois Republican Party. He was an ally of Chicago Mayor "Big Bill" Thompson. During this time, he published two books about race relations. These books were collections of speeches he gave across the country.
Murray passed away in Chicago on April 21, 1926. His neighbor, John Roy Lynch, gave the speech at his funeral. Lynch had also served in the U.S. Congress from Mississippi. Murray was buried in Lincoln Cemetery.
Impact of Disenfranchisement
No Republican congressman was elected from South Carolina until 1964. This change happened after new federal civil rights laws were passed in the 1960s. Black voters in the South began to support national Democratic candidates. White conservatives in the South started to support the Republican Party.
James E. Clyburn, a current Democratic congressman from South Carolina, is a relative of George Murray. Clyburn was first elected to Congress in 1992. He was the first African American to be elected to Congress from South Carolina since George Murray. Over time, many black people moved out of the state during the Great Migration. This changed the population numbers in some areas before black citizens regained their voting rights.
Works by George Washington Murray
- Race Ideals: Effects, Cause, and Remedy for the Afro-American Race Troubles, 1914.
- Light in Dark Places, 1925.
See also
