• About Us
  • Paper Locations
  • Contact
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
MEDIA KIT
African American News and Issues
63 °f
Houston
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Announcements
  • Videos
  • Events
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
African American News and Issues
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Announcements
  • Videos
  • Events
  • Entertainment
No Result
View All Result
African American News and Issues
No Result
View All Result
Home Black History

Know Your History: Republican Texas State Senator Matthew Gaines

aframnews by aframnews
4 months ago
in Black History, Education, News, Texas
0
Know Your History: Republican Texas State Senator Matthew Gaines
75
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedIn

During these times when voting rights of African Americans and other people of color are under attack, we want to continue to highlight those “forgotten” pioneers who fought hard to make sure our “political” voices were heard. For this week’s “Know Your History” we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Gaines – a former slave, community leader, minister, and Republican Texas State Senator – who made valuable contributions towards the establishment of free public education in the state of Texas.

You might also like

Success With The Bar

The Fight For Change

Lone Star College to Celebrate Student Success With Graduation Ceremonies

Gaines was born on August 4, 1840, near Alexandria, Louisiana to a female slave owned by the Martin Despallier family. Gaines taught himself to read from a white boy who smuggled in books. This boy may have been young Blaz Philipe Despallier, who lived on the estate and who would later become the sole heir of Alamo hero Charles Despallier, his uncle. After being sold from the Despallier family, Gaines escaped from his new owner in Louisiana to Arkansas, and eventually made it to New Orleans, where he was captured and returned to his master. In 1859, Gaines was sold to Christopher Columbus Hearne, where he remained until 1863 when he tried to flee to Mexico. He was caught again and was forced to work as a runaway slave in Fredericksburg, Texas until the end of the civil war.

After the 1863 emancipation was finally officially announced in Texas on June 19, 1865, Gaines settled in Washington County, where he established himself as a leader of the freedmen, both as a Baptist preacher and a politician.

In 1869, Gaines was elected as a Senator of Texas’s 16th district in the Twelfth Texas Legislature. He gained a reputation for being a guardian of the newly won rights of the African-Texans. Throughout his term, he addressed the issues of public education, prison reform, the protection of black voters, and tenant farming reformation. Gaines actively supported the forward movement that established the first public school system for all Texans and assisted in allowing Texas to take advantage of the federal Grant College Act, also known as the Morrill Act.

In 1870, Gaines played a strategic role in passing the Militia Bill, which created a state police force to combat lawlessness and to protect against voter intimidation. Gaines was elected to a six-year term to the Senate, but only served four years. In a politically motivated trial he was convicted of bigamy in 1873. Despite the charge being overturned on appeal, his seat was challenged by Seth Shepard and he was removed from office on the grounds of being a convicted felon. In 1875, he was arrested for making a civil rights speech in Giddings. He told his audience that “in the eyes of God, Blacks are as good as whites; they should have pride and hold their heads up even in troubled times.” Gaines continued to be active in politics and made his political views known in conventions, public gatherings, and from his pulpit.

Gaines died in Giddings, Texas, on June 11, 1900.

In 1998, activists on the campus of Texas A&M University suggested Gaines should have his statue displayed prominently. The project was abandoned in the wake of the Aggie Bonfire tragedy in 1999. However, 19 years later, Texas A&M students and other supporters pushed yet again for the establishment of a statue of Matthew Gaines on the Texas A&M College Station campus. On June 19, 2020, the donation goal of the “Matthew Gaines Initiative” was surpassed. A statue of Gaines is set to be unveiled and dedicated on November 19, 2021.  In 2016, Lori Bartley, who claimed to be his great-granddaughter, ran unsuccessfully for US Congress against Sheila Jackson Lee.

Tags: /know Your HistoryMatthew Gaines
Share30Tweet19
aframnews

aframnews

Recommended For You

Success With The Bar

by aframnews
4 months ago
0
Success With The Bar

By: Laisha Harris Twice a year, the Texas Board of Law Examiners has what lawyers call a “Bar exam.” Before a lawyer can engage in the practice of...

Read more

The Fight For Change

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb
4 months ago
0
The Fight For Change

By: Chelsea Davis-Bibb, Ed.D. It was Margaret Mead who said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the...

Read more

Lone Star College to Celebrate Student Success With Graduation Ceremonies

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb
4 months ago
0
Lone Star College to Celebrate Student Success With Graduation Ceremonies

BY: LSC HOUSTON (May 9, 2022) – Lone Star College students, family members and friends will gather in person to celebrate at the LSC Commencement Ceremonies. LSC awards...

Read more

Historic Announcement For HISD

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb
4 months ago
0
Historic Announcement For HISD

By: Jeniece Thompson Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee made a historic announcement as Booker T. Washington was awarded $1,060,000 for “The Vision Community Statue Project” in the Houston Independent School...

Read more

Fort Bend ISD students, staff nominated for Theater Under the Stars 2022 Tommy Tune Awards

by Chelsea Davis-Bibb
4 months ago
0
Fort Bend ISD students, staff nominated for Theater Under the Stars 2022 Tommy Tune Awards

Fort Bend ISD students, staff nominated for Theater Under the Stars 2022 Tommy Tune Awards FORT BEND ISD (April 27, 2022) – Travis High School student Esther Oseni,...

Read more
Next Post
Jay-Z, Team ROC demand DOJ investigate racism, corruption in Kansas Police Department

Jay-Z, Team ROC demand DOJ investigate racism, corruption in Kansas Police Department

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Articles

Congressional Black Caucus Members Push Biden Administration on Advertising with Black Media

Congressional Black Caucus Members Push Biden Administration on Advertising with Black Media

4 months ago
Congressman Al Green Denounces Mass Shooting in Buffalo, NY

Congressman Al Green Denounces Mass Shooting in Buffalo, NY

4 months ago
Fort Bend ISD Multilingual Department Hosts An Event

Fort Bend ISD Multilingual Department Hosts An Event

4 months ago

NEED PAST ISSUES?

Search our archive of past issues Receive our Latest Updates
* indicates required
  • Local
  • National
  • Community
  • Education
  • Politics
  • COVID-19
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports

ARTICLES

  • Local
  • National
  • Community
  • Education
  • Politics
  • COVID-19
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports

CONNECT WITH US

  • Home
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact
African American News and Issues

African American News & Issues
6130 Wheatley St
Houston, TX 77091
(713) 692-1892

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Copyright © 2022. African American News & Issues. All rights reserved. Private Policy | Terms of Use |

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Local
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Announcements
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Contact

Copyright © 2022. African American News & Issues. All rights reserved. Private Policy | Terms of Use |

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?