James W. Ford: Biography

Ford’s Run for the Vice Presidency

Jan 21, 2009
Cicely A. Richard

James W. Ford, an American communist, became the first African American to appear on a presidential ticket in the 20th century.

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As Barack Obama continues to make history, it is a good time to reflect on those who came before him, those who made tiny, often unknown steps that paved the way for African Americans to gain their rightful places in the annuls of American history. James W. Ford is one of those little-known historical figures. He ran for vice president at a time when African Americans barely had the right to vote.

James W. Ford, a social activist, was born in 1903 to a middle-class, Chicago family. This upbringing gave him some advantage over many African Americans who constantly struggled to make ends meet. When Ford graduated from high school, he attended Fisk University, the historically black university in Nashville, Tennessee. At Fisk, he first stuck his toe in the water of activism, becoming involved in campus politics. In addition to his political work on campus, he was also a well-regarded athlete. After graduating from Fisk, Ford served in France during World War II.

Once his tour of duty was over, Ford learned just how rampant racial discrimination was in America. Despite his college education and his military service, he was unable to find gainful employment and took a job at the Chicago Post Office. While working at the post office, he joined the Postal Workers Union and the Communist Party. He quickly became a leader in the Communist Party.

At the time, the Communist Party was trying to include a lot of black leaders into their ranks because African Americans and blue collar whites had some of the same issues. Ford was more than willing to step into a leadership role. He strictly followed the Communist Party orthodox, even going to the Soviet Union in the 1920s. He combined his work in the Communist Party with other organizations who worked toward equal opportunities for African Americans.

In addition to his Communist membership, he was a member of the American Negro Labor Congress, the International Trade Union Committee of Negro Workers, and the Negro Department of the Trade Committee of Negro Workers. He was appointed as head of the latter two.

In the 1930’s, Ford became more involved in politics, joining William Z. Foster’s Communist Party presidential ticket as his running mate. He would go down in history as the first African American nominated to this office. Frederick Douglass was nominated as vice president in 1872, but he never officially accepted the post. He made two more unsuccessful runs in 1936 and 1940 as Earl Browder’s running mate.

James W. Ford garnered mixed reactions to his political views. However, he did bring racial issues to the forefront, including adequate housing and employment discrimination.

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