Jesse M. H. Graham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jesse M. H. Graham
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| Tennessee House of Representatives | |
| In office 1897 – 1898 (never took office) |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jesse Monroe Houston Graham
February 8, 1864 Nashville, Tennessee |
| Died | July 25, 1930 (aged 66) Washington, D.C. |
| Political party | Republican |
Jesse M. H. Graham (February 8, 1864 – July 25, 1930) was an important person in Tennessee's history. He was a teacher, a newspaper editor, and worked for the post office. He also became a state representative, which means he helped make laws for Tennessee.
In 1896, he was chosen to represent Montgomery County, Tennessee. At that time, he was the only African American person elected to the Tennessee legislature. However, he was not allowed to take his seat because of a rule about where he lived.
Some old newspaper reports say that after this, a new law was passed to make it harder for Black candidates to be elected.
Contents
Who Was Jesse M. H. Graham?
Jesse Monroe Houston Graham was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on February 8, 1864. He grew up to have many different jobs. He worked as a teacher, helping young people learn and grow. He also became a newspaper editor, which means he helped decide what stories went into the newspaper. Later, he worked for the post office.
A Voice in the Legislature
In 1896, Jesse M. H. Graham decided to run for a political office. He ran to become a state representative for Montgomery County, Tennessee. He was a member of the Republican Party. When he won the election, it was a very big deal. He was the only African American person elected to the Tennessee legislature at that time. This meant he was going to be a unique voice for his community in the state government.
The Challenge to His Election
Even though he was elected, Jesse M. H. Graham never got to serve in the legislature. There was a rule called a "residency requirement." This rule said that a person had to live in a certain place for a specific amount of time before they could represent it. Graham had lived in Louisville, Kentucky, until October 1895. This meant he hadn't lived in Tennessee long enough according to the rules. Because of this, he was not allowed to take his seat in the legislature.
What Happened Next?
After Jesse M. H. Graham was prevented from taking his seat, something else important happened. A note at the Tennessee State Library and Archives talks about what came next. It says that, according to several newspaper reports, the General Assembly passed a new bill. This bill made it harder for Black candidates to be elected in the future. This shows how challenging it was for African Americans to be part of the government during that time. Jesse M. H. Graham passed away on July 25, 1930, in Washington, D.C..
See also
