African-American officeholders during and following the Reconstruction era

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More than 1,500 African American officeholders served during the Reconstruction era (1865–1877) and in the years after Reconstruction before white supremacy, disenfranchisement, and the Democratic Party fully reasserted control in Southern states. Historian Canter Brown Jr. noted that in some states, such as Florida, the highest number of African Americans were elected or appointed to offices after the end of Reconstruction in 1877. The following is a partial list of notable African American officeholders from the end of the Civil War until before 1900. Dates listed are the year that a term states or the range of years served if multiple terms.

Between 1868 and 1893, 85 men noted as "colored" or "mulatto" were elected to the Arkansas legislature. Initially, they served under the 1868 Arkansas Constitution that granted them the right to vote and hold office. The Democrats retook control of state government and instituted the 1874 Constitution. As a result, after 1893, the next African American to serve as an Arkansas state legislator was in 1973.

Indiana did not have African American legislators until after the Reconstruction era.

James S. Hinton – Marion County 1881 (also trustee of the Wabash and Erie Canal)

James Cantrell – postmaster of Lyles September 12, 1898 – February 12, 1920 In addition, six African American men held statewide offices in Louisiana, including the nation's first African American acting governors.

Samuel C. Watson – State Board of Estimates 1875; Detroit City Council 1875, 1883–1886

Minnesota did not have any African American legislators until after the Reconstruction era.

George W. Harding – postmaster of Wilberforce August 21, 1893 – July 24, 1897

James H. Sumner – door keeper of the Tennessee House of Representatives 1867–1869

Washington did not have any African American legislators during Reconstruction.

Solomon G. Brown – 1871–1874
Josiah T. Settle – reading clerk of the House of Delegates 1872 (also Mississippi House)