William Henry Steward, up from slavery to Kentucky Republican civil rights leader


Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor William Henry Steward, born in Kentucky, July 26th 1847. Though enslaved, he attended school, eventually becoming a teacher. After several years working for a railroad, the Rutherford Hayes administration hired him as the state’s first black letter-carrier. He edited The American Baptist as well as a local newspaper. This multi-talent also was music director at a church.


Steward devoted himself to improving educational opportunities for black children in Louisville. He served on boards of directors for an orphanage and a college and the Young Men’s Christian Association.

Democrats received his condemnation for backing Jim Crow and opposing the GOP’s civil rights agenda. Steward aligned with Booker T. Washington’s gradual approach to achieving racial equality. He attended the 1892 Republican National Convention and campaigned for William McKinley in 1896.

Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the future of theirs. For more information, see www.grandoldpartisan.com. 

Here is a YouTube Video about this article.

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Here is my Substack about this article.

Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement.


Each day, his YouTube videos and TikTok videos and Rumble videos and Grand Old Partisan blog celebrate more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states.

Clarence Thomas cited Back to Basics for the Republican Party in a Supreme Court decision.

"This is the most amazing book about politics that I have ever read. The Overview should be required reading for anyone with even a minor interest in government. The remainder is an enthralling history lesson that I will never forget. For years, we have all been misled about the true nature of the GOP. This is the real deal! Read it and be proud!"

"Your book is a national treasure. I'm always recommending it."

"Michael Zak wrote the definitive history of the GOP."

"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the most significant contribution to the Republican Party in the last twenty years apart from Ronald Reagan."

"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before."

and

"one of the best books I ever read"


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