Rep. Thomas Wright put Jim Black in power.
In 1999, the Wilmington Democrat was one of 10 members of the House black caucus who voted for Black as speaker instead of returning former Speaker Dan Blue to the position.
That angered some black leaders, who felt that Wright and others should have supported Blue, who is black, instead of Black, who is white. The Wilmington Journal, an African-American paper, called Wright an "Uncle Tom" after the vote.
Wright's decision may have helped seal the deal.
The day of the vote, he gave a brief nominating speech in support of Black. As head of the 24-member joint House and Senate black caucus, he was highly visible, and Black won the race by a single vote.
Later, Black put him in charge of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Capital, which handles state spending on construction, and the Health Committee.
After the jump, the vote split.
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There were 17 members of the House black caucus in 1999. According to the House Journal, 10 voted for Black, six for Blue and one was sick with pneumonia.
For Black:
Donald Bonner, Flossie Boyd-McIntyre, Jerry Braswell, Pete Cunningham, Beverly Earle, Thomas Hardaway, Kinney, Pete Oldham, William Wainwright and Wright.
For Blue:
Alma Adams, Dan Blue, Toby Fitch, Howard Hunter, Mary McAllister and Mickey Michaux.
Absent:
Larry Womble.
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