Gerald Talbot
Encyclopedia
Gerald E. Talbot is a former state legislator in Maine. In 1972, Talbot became the first African American
member of the Maine House of Representatives
when he was elected to represent part of Portland, Maine
as a Democrat
. He was a member of the legislature until 1978. In 1980, Governor Joseph Brennan
appointed him to the Maine Board of Education. He also helped reorganize the NAACP in Maine. In 2006, a 240 seat auditorium at the University of Southern Maine
was named in honor of him.
. Talbot was born and grew up in Bangor, Maine
, where he attended Bangor High School. Talbot’s father was chef for 35 years at the Bangor House Hotel, and his mother and grandmother ran a catering service. He served in the United States Army
from 1953–1956, and was then a printer at the Portland Press Herald
for 11 years.. He participated in the 1963 March on Washington
along with other African American activists as part of the Civil Rights Movement
. In 1972, in a crowded field, Talbot won a democratic primary and eventually won the election for the House of Representatives. Talbot went to court three times in housing discrimination suits. He also sponsored a bill to remove the word “nigger” from 12 Maine place-names.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
member of the Maine House of Representatives
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
when he was elected to represent part of Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
as a Democrat
Maine Democratic Party
The Maine Democratic Party is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Maine.-Current Democratic officeholders:The Maine Democratic Party is the minority party in both the Maine Senate and Maine House of Representatives. The party, however, holds both of the state's U.S...
. He was a member of the legislature until 1978. In 1980, Governor Joseph Brennan
Joseph Brennan
Joseph Brennan may refer to:*Joseph Charles Brennan , English recipient of the Victoria Cross*Joseph Brennan , Irish civil servant...
appointed him to the Maine Board of Education. He also helped reorganize the NAACP in Maine. In 2006, a 240 seat auditorium at the University of Southern Maine
University of Southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine is a multi-campus public urban comprehensive university and part of the University of Maine System. USM's three primary campuses are located in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston...
was named in honor of him.
History
Much of Talbot's family came from Harlem, Maine, which was incorporated in 1818 as the town of ChinaChina, Maine
China is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,106 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
. Talbot was born and grew up in Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
, where he attended Bangor High School. Talbot’s father was chef for 35 years at the Bangor House Hotel, and his mother and grandmother ran a catering service. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1953–1956, and was then a printer at the Portland Press Herald
Portland Press Herald
The Portland Press Herald publish daily newspapers in Portland, Maine, USA...
for 11 years.. He participated in the 1963 March on Washington
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was the largest political rally for human rights in United States history and called for civil and economic rights for African Americans. It took place in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, August 28, 1963. Martin Luther King, Jr...
along with other African American activists as part of the Civil Rights Movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
. In 1972, in a crowded field, Talbot won a democratic primary and eventually won the election for the House of Representatives. Talbot went to court three times in housing discrimination suits. He also sponsored a bill to remove the word “nigger” from 12 Maine place-names.
Books
- Maine's Visible Black History: The First Chronicle of Its People by H. H. Price and Gerald E. Talbot, with 42 contributing writers | Tilbury House Publishers | ISBN 978-0-88448-275-8
External links
- Gerald H. Talbot Portrait & Biography | in Americans Who Tell the Truth: A collection or portraits & biographies. paintings by Robert Shetterly
- Making Freedom: Maine's African American History | Primary Source: Educating for Global Understanding
- The African American Collection of Maine | Part of the Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine Of the University of Southern Maine Library’s Special Collections