Title
Shandy Wesley Jones, 1816-1886
Subject
Slavery
Freedmen
African-American...History...Tuscaloosa
Description
Shandy Wesley Jones was born as a slave and freed as a child. He worked his way up to become Tuscaloosa's first elected black representative to the State House serving from 1868 to 1870. He was also a wealthy barber and real estate investor, abolitionist, port of Mobile customs inspector, husband and father of 14. He was a founder of one of Tuscaloosa's first black churches, the Methodist church now known as the Hunter Chapel AME Zion Church.
In spite of the Emancipation Proclamation, due to the times when black people struggled for full citizenship, Jones was not recognized though he became one of the state's richest and most respected men, the Ku Klux Klan drove him from his home to Mobile.
Two of his descendants who became educators and researchers would not let him be forgotten and wrote a book "Descendants of Shandy Wesley Jones and Evalina Love Jones."
In spite of the Emancipation Proclamation, due to the times when black people struggled for full citizenship, Jones was not recognized though he became one of the state's richest and most respected men, the Ku Klux Klan drove him from his home to Mobile.
Two of his descendants who became educators and researchers would not let him be forgotten and wrote a book "Descendants of Shandy Wesley Jones and Evalina Love Jones."
Source
Martha O'Rourke-Arrow
Publisher
The Tuscaloosa News
Contributor
Betty Slowe (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
2427
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Alabama
Original Format
Photograph