On May 13, 1969, Charles Evers made history in Fayette, Mississippi by becoming the first Black mayor elected in a racially integrated town in the state since Reconstruction. His victory marked a powerful milestone in the long struggle for civil rights and political representation in the Deep South. A brother of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, Charles ran on a platform of justice, economic development, and inclusion—garnering support from both Black and white voters. Two years later, in June 1971, he again broke barriers by becoming the first Black candidate in the 20th century to run for governor of Mississippi. Though he did not win, his campaign laid a foundation for future Black political leadership in the region.
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