On May 1, 1946, William H. Hastie was confirmed as the governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, making history as the first African American to serve as a governor of a U.S. territory since Reconstruction. A former federal judge and distinguished legal scholar, Hastie’s appointment by President Harry S. Truman marked a major milestone in Black political leadership. His tenure symbolized a shift toward greater inclusion of African Americans in high-level government roles and set the stage for future appointments in federal and territorial governance.
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