Last year, Signal Cleveland Reporter Olivera Perkins told the story of Ohio’s “Father of Labor Day,” John Patterson Green.
Not only is Green credited with being one of the first lawmakers in the United States to introduce a bill to designate a day for Ohio workers to rest, but he was also a trailblazer for Black Clevelanders and Ohioans.
After a successful law career in Cleveland, Green became the first Black elected official in the city, serving as the Republican justice of the peace. Years later, Green would become the second Black man elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. (George Washington Williams of Hamilton County was the first Black member.) A decade later, Green became the first Black man elected to the Ohio Senate.
After holding several federal positions, including in the U.S. Postal Service, Green went back to Cleveland to practice law. He died in Cleveland in 1940.
The contributions from this Cleveland native, who is now buried at Woodland Cemetery in the Central neighborhood, are rarely discussed locally. In Perkins’ story last year, retired Cuyahoga Community College Professor Dorothy Salem was quoted as saying, “I would go out in the community, and I would mention John P. Green. Nobody knew about him. I’m saying to myself, are you kidding?”
Do you know about John Green’s legislation to create Labor Day in Ohio?
Learn about that below.
Also in this Labor Day-related news quiz, test your knowledge on events going on around Greater Cleveland over the holiday weekend.
Congrats to quiz takers Rochelle A., Richard J. and Marge C. for getting 100% on last week’s tricky quiz about the Cleveland National Air Show, the upcoming Ohio Supreme Court election and Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s new cell phone policy.
Good luck this week, and have a happy Labor Day weekend (thanks to John Green)!
Want to keep learning? Explore some of our coverage, including:
- Things to do in Cleveland: From arts events to free family activities, there’s plenty to do.
- Election Signals 2024: As the November election looms, keep up with our coverage of local and state ballot issues.
- The Housing Squeeze: Our ongoing series looking into affordable housing in Cleveland.
- Cleveland Documenters meeting briefs: One-of-a-kind reporting on what happens at Cleveland government meetings.
