Nineteenth Century activist Octavius Catto. Wikipedia Commons.
(1839-18710
- Octavius Catto was born a freeman in 1839, in South Carolina. His family later moved to Philadelphia where he grew up.
- He later became the valedictorian at his school Institute for Colored Youth
- During the Civil War, Catto worked alongside Fredrick Douglas to recuite African-Americans to fight in the war.
- Catto co-founded the Philadelphia Pythians, one of the first African-American baseball clubs.
- The activist defied the ban of African-Americans being unable to ride in a streetcar. By 1867, with Catto’s persistence, Blacks were allowed to ride the streetcars.
- Catto helped ratify the 15th Amendment that allowed Black men the right to vote In 1870.
- Catto worked towards getting Black men to register to vote even though a lot of Blacks were threatened and terrorised at voting booths.
- On election Day 1871, Catto was shot and killed. He was only 32 years old. His murderer was acquitted from all charges.
- In 2017, a 12-foot bronze statue of Catto was unveiled in Philadelphia.
- In 2007, a headstone was made for Catto at his burial site at Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania.
