Joe Lang Kershaw
The Vision: How it Started
The Honorable Joe Lang Kershaw (b. 1911 – d. 1999) (D-Miami), a Florida A&M College graduate, made history as the first African American elected to serve in the Florida Legislature since the Reconstruction era. He rendered 14 years of service (1968-1982).
Joe Lang Kershaw (b. 1911 – d. 1999) (D-Miami) was born in Live Oak Florida. He made history as the first African American elected to serve in the Florida Legislature since the Reconstruction era, and was the lead sponsor of the bill that created the Black Archives.
In the early 1930s, while enrolled at Florida A&M College, Kershaw worked as a part-time janitor at the Florida Capitol complex. While there, he would frequently stand behind the speakers podium, and pretend he was addressing the Florida House of Representatives. During his time as a student, he joined the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, ultimately becoming a lifelong member. He Graduated in 1935 with a degree in history.
Following his graduation, Kershaw worked as a civics teacher in a junior high school in Coral Gables in Dade County (renamed Miami-Dade County in 1997). He would return to Florida A&M to achieve his Master of Education degree. He was a member of the Holy Name Society, the Knights of Columbus, and the Miami Economic Advisory Board while he lived in Miami.
In November 1968, Kershaw, who had devoted decades to his career in education, earned a seat in the Florida House of Representatives to represent the 99th district, which at the time covered mostly Dade County. Upon being elected, he made history as the first African-American elected to serve in the Florida Legislature since the Reconstruction era.
In addition to serving as chairman of the Elections Committee, Kershaw also put forth the legislation that established the Florida Human Rights Commission. In 1971 Kershaw successfully pushed Florida Statute 241.477 through the legislature, resulting in the establishment of the Black Archives at Florida A&M University. He rendered 14 years of service in the Florida Legislature from 1968 to 1982.
Joe Lang Kershaw Sr. passed away in 1999.
