Harry Clay Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harry Clay Smith
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| Born | January 28, 1863 |
| Died | December 10, 1941 (aged 78) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
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Harry C. Smith (born January 28, 1863, died December 10, 1941) was an important African American leader. He was a newspaper editor and a politician in Ohio. Smith strongly supported civil rights for all people, especially before World War II. He helped create some of the toughest laws against lynching in the United States. He also served in the Ohio House of Representatives, which is part of Ohio's government.
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Harry Smith's Early Life and School
Harry Smith was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, on January 28, 1863. His parents, John and Sarah Smith, moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1865. This was after the end of the Civil War. In Cleveland, Smith went to Central High School. This was one of America's first public schools, started in 1846. Many famous people, like John D. Rockefeller and Langston Hughes, went to this school.
The schools in Cleveland were integrated back then. This means students of all races went to school together. This experience shaped Smith's strong belief in equality for everyone. He was against any kind of segregation, which is separating people by race.
While in school, Harry learned to play the cornet, a type of trumpet. He often played in orchestras and bands. This helped him earn money to support his family. He even played for an orchestra in Lakewood, New York, during the summers of 1881 and 1882.
Smith also started working as a writer while still in high school. He wrote for newspapers in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Springfield. For his last year and a half of school, he wrote for a weekly paper called the Cleveland Sun. After high school, he kept working as a musician for about a year and a half. He led many music groups in Cleveland. These included orchestras, brass bands, and singing groups. He also wrote several popular songs. Smith was also active in sports groups. He was often the only black person in these organizations.
The Cleveland Gazette Newspaper
After finishing Central High School in 1882, Harry Smith and three friends started a newspaper. It was called The Cleveland Gazette, and it began publishing in 1883. The Cleveland Gazette was one of many newspapers for African Americans. These papers started during the Reconstruction era, after the Civil War.
Smith first worked as the managing editor of the Gazette. But he soon bought out his three friends. He became the only owner of the newspaper. Smith ran the Cleveland Gazette very well. The paper became known as "old reliable." This was because it was published every Saturday for 58 years without missing a single issue.
Smith used his newspaper to speak out against unfair racial issues. He wrote against segregated education, which meant separate schools for black and white children. He also spoke out against Ohio's "Black Laws." These laws treated African Americans unfairly. Smith was also against the idea of "self-segregation" by African Americans. He believed it would lead to more separation and Jim Crow schools. Jim Crow laws were unfair rules that kept black and white people apart.
Smith also thought that vocational colleges, like Hampton and Tuskegee Schools, were not enough. He encouraged his readers to go to traditional liberal arts colleges. The Gazette is remembered as one of the best black newspapers of its time. It was the main way Smith shared his ideas about politics and equality. The paper always stood for integration, which means bringing people of all races together.
Harry Smith's Plan for Equality
Harry Smith had a three-part plan to end racial unfairness in America. His plan focused on legal, political, and social ways to fight racism.
- Political Action: Smith urged African Americans to get involved in politics. He believed that by being part of the government, they could change unfair public policies.
- Legal Action: He supported using lawsuits to challenge businesses that only served white people. He wanted to use the law to make sure everyone was treated fairly.
- Social Action: Smith fought social injustice by supporting boycotts. He encouraged people to stop using businesses or government services that did not treat African Americans equally.
This plan was clearly shown in his work at the Gazette and in his political career. Smith was also one of the 29 people who helped start the Niagara Movement. These "Original Twenty-nine" leaders came from 14 different states.
Political Career and Achievements
Harry Smith's political career began with help from his mentor, Marcus A. Hanna. Hanna was a Republican and a US Senator from Ohio. He also went to Central High School. Hanna encouraged Smith to enter politics to make changes, along with his newspaper work.
Following Hanna's advice, Smith took his first government job as an oil inspector from 1885 to 1889. In 1893, Smith was elected to the State Assembly from a Cleveland district. He served three terms in the Ohio General Assembly as a Republican representative. This was from 1893 to 1899.
During his time as a representative, Smith played a key role in passing important laws:
- Ohio Civil Rights Act of 1894: This law set big penalties for businesses that practiced discrimination. It meant businesses could be punished for treating people unfairly.
- Smith Act of 1896: This law was one of the strongest anti-lynching laws of its time. It aimed to stop the violent practice of lynching.
During his political career, Smith also tried to stop the racist film The Birth of a Nation from being shown in Cleveland. He fought it in court for years, but the movie was eventually shown.
In 1920, Smith tried to be nominated for Ohio Secretary of State. But he was not chosen because of his race. However, in 1926, Smith ran for Governor of Ohio in the Republican Primary. Even though he lost, his attempt was a big step for African Americans in Ohio politics. After this, Smith focused on The Cleveland Gazette. He continued to be the main editor for another 15 years until he passed away.
Harry Smith's Death
Harry Smith died on December 10, 1941. He did not have a wife or children. He left all his money and belongings to the Negro Blind Organization in Cleveland.
