Event honors black officials

The first black Valley
officeholder was Watson Williams, who was elected constable in 1890.

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — “I stand on the shoulders of giants,” said former Youngstown City Councilman James E. Fortune Jr.

Fortune, also a former city council president, was one of a number of black political leaders recognized during the first “Journey Through African-American Political History in Mahoning County” held Wednesday at the Rosetta Stone Cafe on West Federal Street.

The “giants” Fortune referred to are the black citizens who served in public office here, beginning with Watson Williams, who in 1890 was elected constable of the Mahoning Valley, becoming the first black man elected to office here.

The accomplishments of black officeholders from 1890 until the present were compiled by Mildred Delgado, secretary of the Youngstown-Warren Black Caucus, which along with the Mahoning County Democratic Party, sponsored the event.

Included on Delgado’s list are: Atty. William R. Steward, who in 1898 became the first black elected to the Ohio House of Representatives; William S. Vaughn, the first black elected to Youngstown City Council, 1927; Hugh Frost, the first black member of the Youngstown City Board of Education, 1962; Judge Lloyd R. Haynes, the Valley’s first black judge, 1972; Darlene K. Rogers, the first black woman elected to city council, 1987; Sarah Brown-Clark, the first black woman elected Youngstown Clerk of Courts, 1999; and Roy Kojo Jawara “Jay” Williams, who became the city’s first black mayor in 2005.

“The story of my election is already told by each person in this history. All of them had a piece in my election,” Williams said, echoing the theme voiced by Fortune and others in honoring those who came before them and paved the way.

“I thank you for this honor. I am humbled. Now, our obligation is to continue to blaze a trail for those who will come after us,” Williams said.

Rogers could not attend the event, but Delgado, in accepting the award for her, said Rogers felt “we are doing something to keep hope and history alive.”

Also given special recognition was Glenn Holmes, whose election in 2007 made him the first black mayor of McDonald.

“I represent 1 percent of the population in McDonald. That shows that people want substance and will overlook superficial things,” he said.

There also were commendations presented to honorees by the Mahoning County commissioners and several state officials.

The event was organized by Jaladah Aslam, caucus president and vice chairwoman of the county Democratic Party, and Lisa Antonini, county treasurer and party chairwoman.