In the 1890 Census, Vance County was more than 63 percent African American."Vance County, North Carolina" demographics In 1894 a biracial coalition of Populists and Republicans elected African American George Henry White to the US Congress and gained control of the state house. The Democrats were determined to forestall this happening again. White strongly opposed the new constitution, saying "I cannot live in North Carolina and be a man and be treated as a man." He left the state after his second term expired, setting up a business in Washington, DC."George Henry White" , Black Americans in Congress, US Congress
