Joseph H. Stuart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph H. Stuart
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| Born | 1854 |
| Died | April 4, 1910 (aged 55–56) Denver, Colorado
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| Nationality | Naturalized American, born in the West Indies |
| Occupation | Lawyer, legislator, teacher |
| Years active | Before 1877–1910 |
| Known for | A Colorado state bill for equal access to public places for all |
Joseph H. Stuart (1854–1910) was an important African American lawyer and politician. He was born in the British West Indies and later moved to the United States. In 1891, he became the second black lawyer to practice law in Colorado.
Later, in 1895, Stuart made history again as the second African American to serve in Colorado's state legislature. He worked hard to pass a law that would give all people, regardless of their race, equal access to public places. This law was passed, but it faced challenges because of racial discrimination at the time. Before settling in Colorado, Stuart was a teacher in South Carolina and a lawyer in Kansas.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Joseph H. Stuart was born in 1854 in the British West Indies. He studied at Codrington College in Barbados. After finishing his studies there, he moved to South Carolina in the United States.
In South Carolina, he attended Cedar Hall Academy and became a teacher. Stuart then went on to study law and earned his law degree in 1877 from the University of South Carolina. This was a big achievement, especially since it was only a few decades after the American Civil War. At that time, many African Americans were not allowed to get a good education or attend universities.
Career as a Lawyer and Politician
Becoming a Lawyer
Stuart opened his first law office in Topeka, Kansas in 1879. He officially joined the Kansas Bar Association in 1883. Later, in 1890, he moved to San Diego, California, where he also became a lawyer. He was the first African American male lawyer in San Diego County.
However, San Diego did not have a large African American community at the time. So, Stuart decided to move to Denver, Colorado around 1891. Many people moved to Denver in the 1800s for health reasons. On December 1, 1891, he joined the Colorado Bar Association. This made him the second black lawyer to be admitted to the bar in Colorado. He set up his law practice in a building in downtown Denver.
Stuart continued to practice law even after his time as a legislator. He sometimes traveled to other towns for cases. For example, in 1907, he went to Trinidad, Colorado to defend a client. He also defended a client who was being unfairly targeted by a detective agency. Stuart successfully proved his client's innocence in March 1910.
Serving as a Legislator
Joseph H. Stuart was chosen by the black community in Denver to run for a seat in the state legislature. He ran to represent Arapahoe County, Colorado. In 1894, he gave a powerful speech during his campaign. He told the crowd that black citizens always support good leadership.
Stuart served one term as a state legislator from 1895 to 1897. He worked on a very important bill. This bill aimed to stop racial discrimination and make sure everyone had equal access to public places. These places included hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, and transportation. For example, places like Elitch Gardens were required to serve black customers.
Some lawmakers did not want to pass this bill. However, they eventually agreed, and the bill became a law in 1895. Even though the law was passed, it was not always effective in Colorado. This was due to unfair Jim Crow laws, ongoing racial discrimination, and a lack of ways to enforce the new law. Things did not truly improve much until the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Stuart ran for office again in 1906 but was not elected for a second term.
Other Activities
In January 1900, Stuart attended a reception for Booker T. Washington, a famous African American leader. Stuart read a poem written for the occasion by Paul Laurence Dunbar. In 1908, Stuart was elected secretary of the local chapter of the National Negro Business League. This group helped support businesses owned by African Americans.
Joseph H. Stuart became an American citizen on November 5, 1894.
Death
Stuart passed away on April 4, 1910, at his home in Denver. His funeral was held at the Shorter Community M.E. Church. He was buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver.
Images for kids
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Executive Committee of the National Negro Business League, founded by Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), who is seated, second from the left.
See also
