Fifty for 150: One of the first Black lawmakers in Colorado passes civil rights law in 1895

One of the first Black state legislators in Colorado passed a civil rights law in 1895 that said public accommodations could not ban people of color. Joseph Stuart, the second Black lawyer to practice in Colorado and the second Black member of the Colorado Legislature, led a bill the same year voters first elected him […]

By: Lindsey Toomer

Outlets: Colorado Newsline

Published: July 22, 2026

Words: 433

Last Updated: 4 weeks, 1 day ago

Body Text Preview

One of the first Black state legislators in Colorado passed a civil rights law in 1895 that said public accommodations could not ban people of color.

This story is part of Colorado at 150. Each Fifty for 150 story focuses on an event that helped define Colorado over 150 years of statehood. Newsline is publishing one Fifty for 150 story every weekday in reverse chronological order until the sesquicentennial, …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.
Register for Free Log in