Charles Oscar Harris (August 5, 1852 - October 8, 1913) was an American public official and state legislator in Alabama.[1][2]
He was born August 5, 1852 in Tuskegee, Alabama (or Georgia[1]) and studied at Oberlin College in Ohio and Howard University in Washington D.C.[3] He returned to Alabama and served in the Alabama House of Representatives in 1876 and 1877.[4]He served as a Republican, and attended the Republican National Conventions as a delegate eights times.[3]
In March 1875 Harris along with other prominent African Americans form Montgomery purchased tickets to white-only seats in the local theatre in an attempt to test the 1875 Civil Rights Act.[3] Being duly denied the seats they took the issue to the courts.[3][5]
After his service to the legislature he had a long career as a mailing clerk serving under the terms of seven presidents and four postmasters.[6]
A historical marker is at his home site at 813 Adams Avenue in Montgomery,[3] it was dedicated April 27, 2019.[7] His descendants with the surname Hilyer passed as white.[8]