Summary Of John Rayner's Interest In Politics

First, Cantrell states that Rayner gets interested in the political system through his father. During the time when Rayner was born, it was a time when the Post-Civil War had occurred. African Americans were free from slavery, but they did not have equal rights such as the white man. As a young boy due to being in an environment of politicians he had the opportunity to listen to his father’s speeches. John was placed in his father’s white home, allowing him to see that his father had duties in the session convention and this leads John Rayner to become interested in politics.
Secondly, Rayner becomes a black orator for politics in the South where blacks were the minority in the elective offices and because of that the positions were low-level.
Over the years, Rayner becomes an independent in saying that people who vote as a straight party ticket would allow others to do their own thinking. In May 1908, Rayner offered his service to Ceil Lyon as a black orator, but was denied due to believing the Republican Party could not carry state elections. As Populism begins to fade, it proved to be more difficult into the rights of African Americans since Rayner wanted the poor blacks to vote instead of staying at home by endorsing on poll taxes. The defeat in Populism could have helped the African Americans since the blacks lost their political gains they had made at the end of Reconstruction.
Cantrell concludes with how Rayner faced a period when African Americans were separated with equal rights. The author discusses how Rayner was affected by the Post-Civil War. The rights do change a bit since Rayner was able to receive a position, but still doesn’t have equal rights. Rayner also becomes an orator for blacks and speaks to the people to gain their influences and support. After the defeat on Populism he still is trying to search for a Political voice since after so many years in trying to change to equal rights he began to lose