Arizona sun., 1947-07-04
|istory Is Made In Winston-Sa|em, n c.
Neqro Elected Alderman In
North Carolina Twin Cities
BY JOHN JAMISON


in Winston-Salem, N. c., that old
Southern state hadn't heard of in
SO years. A Negro, Rev. Kenneth
R. Williams, "a, was elected to the
board of aldermen for two years
and on the Democratic ticket, too!
Brownskinned, wiry and with an
energetic charm that seemed to
spread out in the room the alder
man talked to New York reporters
on June 9. The occasion was a re-
ception in the spacious offices of
New York'S Negro councilman,
Benjamin J. Davis.
Present were dozen or so Har-
lem community leaders. Democrats,
Republicans, American Labor par
tyites, Communists, veterans, wo-
men - they had all come to well
come and see that man that had
accomplished such a terrific feat.
A veteran of four years service,
in New York for the United Negro
and Allied Veterans convention,
the alderman, heads the First In
stitutienal Baptist Church with
congregation of over 500.
There was a hubbub in Council
man Davis office, while everyone
crowded around the alderman and
asked him countless questions.
During the interview he sat at
Councilman Davis big glass-top
desk.
And how did he do it, we all
wanted to know.
II didn't do it. We did," he
smiled. "It waS.a hard-fought bat
tie. Most of my support came from
labor, liberal whites and all the
Negro voters. My campaign man
ager was C. c. Kellem, the local
NAACP president"
He was also supported by the
city's two papers, The Journal and
The Twin City Sentinel.
There were seven Democrats in
the primaries and in the finals.
Five were eliminated, leaving him.
self and a white man, who ran
against two white Republicans in
the Third Ward.
Of the 5000 registered voters
60 percent were Negroes. He re-
ceived 1868 votes, so percent of the
votes cast and more than any other
alderman ever got. st
And how was he received by the
other aldermen?
They gave me "a fine reception
and assigned NE to six commit
tees"
It developed that he is chairman
of the committee on lights and ORR
nance, and serves on the school
board, health, library and recrea-
ton committees. Each alderman
is on the board of education.
Asked to comment on the Signifi-
canoe of his election, he readily
answered.
"Well, naturally, it means lot
to the Negroes of the town and
state. For me personally I will
try to serve all the people courage
ously and efficiently. Winston
Salem is a good town, and think
we can make it better one for
everybody"
The alderman was an Army
chaplain, and, excluding his serv-
ice time, has pastored the same
church for 10 years. He finished
Atlanta's Morehouse College i'm
1888 and did graduate work at
Boston University.
Was he married? "Oh, yes
fine and gentle woman. Her name
is Edythe. And you should see my
fine boys, Kenneth, 8, and Rom
aid, 4"
The last Negro to hold such Of
flee in Winston-Salem was appoint
ed to it in 1896. Between 1895-99
there were more than 40 Negro
magistrates in New Hanover coun-
ty. And in Greenville four of the
six councilmen were Negroes.
Other North Carolina towns hav-
ing Negro councilmen in that pc
riod were Wilmington, New Bun,
Goldsboro, Elizabeth City and
Edenton. But this was not pecu-
liar. It was merely Indicative of
the Negro majorities that still ex-
ick ho