Watkins the Democrat for Mayor

[Kansas City, 1979. Campaign Poster. Image area approximately 33 x 53cm. Contemporary matting added. Red white and blue poster with black and white portrait of Watkins in upper left corner. Watkins has written an inked inscription in the diagonal white stripes above and below the text: "To Bryant -- When the history of Kansas City is written you're no. 1. Support from you was my greatest boost. Bruce 2-27-79 3-27-79 We shall continue until democracy works in Kansas City." Watkins for Mayor campaign button mounted in lower right corner of poster above the Union label. Frame shows wear; poster and matting appear clean and attractive. Watkins was the first (truncated) African American elected to the City Council in Kansas City in 1963 and came close to becoming the first African American mayor of that city when he lost the 1979 mayoral election by about 20,000 votes to Richard Berkley. Watkins died of cancer the following year at the age of 56. We have not been able to identify the inscribee. (Inventory #: 82089)