Get out the vote! Election Day, November 4, 1961

Article about the political rally

On Saturday, November 4, 1961 in San Antonio, Texas, Reverend Black presented an appeal to vote for Texas State Senator Henry B. Gonzalez for the United States Congress. Vice President of the United States Lyndon Baines Johnson and G.J. Sutton (another prominent African American citizen from San Antonio) also spoke at the rally. In addition, Glenn Kothmann (Texas House Representative), and Mexican film star "Cantinflas" were present.

Whereas today’s rallies are commonly held at community halls and government locations, this rally was held on the back of a truck at an H.E.B. grocery store on the East side, at N. New Braunfels Avenue and Center Street (the store is no longer there). The article is from the SNAP News newspaper from November 10, 1961, part of which is lacquered onto the plaque, and is one example of many collection items created by Reverend Black and ZerNona Black which memorialize the events and issues they deemed important to their lives.

Framed letter from LBJ to Reverend Black

A letter dated November 24, 1961 from Vice President Johnson to Reverend Black praises the speech Black gave at the rally, calling it “one of the most moving, impressive oratories” he has ever heard. Henry B. Gonzalez was elected to Congress on that election day.

Johnson writes:

I think we proved something in San Antonio on November fourth for the eyes of the world. Each affirmation that this is still the home of the brave and the home of the free is a cause for rejoicing. Your eloquent testimony makes my heart glad and runs the bigots a little farther underground.

Entries from November 4, 1961 from the Lyndon B. Johnson Daily Diary Collection provide the background information that ties the newspaper article on the plaque to LBJ’s presence at the rally as well as to the letter.