Abstract
In 1968, Dr. Reginald Hawkins, an African American civil rights leader and dentist from Charlotte, ran for governor in North Carolina within the Democratic primary. He lost the race, but his campaign succeeded by demonstrating the potential for Black political power. This article focuses on Hawkins, his civil rights activism in Charlotte, and his gubernatorial candidacy in 1968. From December 1967 through May 4, 1968, Hawkins barnstormed the state, promoted a progressive political agenda, and inspired African Americans. Always the underdog, Hawkins expected a boost from Martin Luther King Jr., who had promised to campaign with him across North Carolina, but King’s death curtailed Hawkins’s campaign. Hawkins did not win the primary—and he never stood much of a chance—but his effort strengthened Black political engagement and helped pave the way for Black candidates to win statewide races in the not-too-distant future.
