May 1930
On May 9, 1930, a mob in Sherman, Texas attempted to seize George Hughes, a Black farmhand accused of assaulting a white woman, from the courthouse. After failing to break through, the mob set the courthouse on fire with Hughes inside, then lynched his burned body. The mob then burned Black-owned homes and businesses in Sherman's Black district. Texas Rangers and National Guard restored order but no one was prosecuted for the courthouse burning or the subsequent destruction of the Black neighborhood.
In May 1930, the U.S. Senate rejected President Hoover's nomination of Judge John J. Parker to the Supreme Court 41–39 following an NAACP campaign documenting Parker's 1920 statement that Black participation in politics was 'a source of evil' and his judicial record upholding anti-Black measures. The NAACP coordinated Black voter pressure on senators in key states. The defeat marked the first time Black political power had successfully blocked a Supreme Court nomination, demonstrated that the Northern Black vote was becoming a consequential electoral force, and sent a signal to politicians that anti-Black positions carried costs.
Events
- May 7, 1930NAACP Defeats John Parker's Supreme Court Nomination Over Anti-Black Record
In May 1930, the U.S. Senate rejected President Hoover's nomination of Judge John J. Parker to the Supreme Court 41–39 following an NAACP campaign documenting Parker's 1920 statement that Black participation in politics was 'a source of evil' and his judicial record upholding anti-Black measures. The NAACP coordinated Black voter pressure on senators in key states. The defeat marked the first time Black political power had successfully blocked a Supreme Court nomination, demonstrated that the Northern Black vote was becoming a consequential electoral force, and sent a signal to politicians that anti-Black positions carried costs.
- May 7, 1930NAACP Defeats John Parker's Supreme Court Nomination Over Anti-Black Record
In May 1930, the U.S. Senate rejected President Hoover's nomination of Judge John J. Parker to the Supreme Court 41–39 following an NAACP campaign documenting Parker's 1920 statement that Black participation in politics was 'a source of evil' and his judicial record upholding anti-Black measures. The NAACP coordinated Black voter pressure on senators in key states. The defeat was the first time Black political power had successfully blocked a Supreme Court nomination and demonstrated that the Northern Black vote was becoming a consequential electoral force.
- May 9, 1930George Hughes Burned Alive in Sherman, Texas Courthouse
On May 9, 1930, a mob in Sherman, Texas attempted to seize George Hughes, a Black farmhand accused of assaulting a white woman, from the courthouse. After failing to break through, the mob set the courthouse on fire with Hughes inside, then lynched his burned body. The mob then burned Black-owned homes and businesses in Sherman's Black district. Texas Rangers and National Guard restored order but no one was prosecuted for the courthouse burning or the subsequent destruction of the Black neighborhood.
- May 9, 1930George Hughes Burned Alive in Sherman, Texas After Alleged Assault Charge
On May 9, 1930, a mob in Sherman, Texas attempted to seize George Hughes, a Black farmhand accused of assaulting a white woman, from the courthouse. After failing to break through, the mob set the courthouse on fire with Hughes inside, then lynched his burned body. The mob then burned Black-owned homes and businesses in Sherman's Black district. Texas Rangers and National Guard restored order but no one was prosecuted for the courthouse burning or the subsequent destruction of the Black neighborhood. Governor Dan Moody called it a 'disgrace' but took no action.