On November 12, 1977, Ernest Nathan “Dutch” Morial was elected the first Black mayor of New Orleans, marking a turning point for Black political power in the Deep South.
Born in 1929 in New Orleans’ Seventh Ward, Morial grew up in a Creole Catholic family that valued education and perseverance.
After graduating from Xavier University, he made history in 1954 as the first African American to earn a law degree from Louisiana State University. His early career as a civil rights attorney and local NAACP president cemented his reputation as a brilliant strategist who preferred courtrooms over picket lines.
Before running for mayor, Morial had already broken multiple barriers in Louisiana politics. He became the first Black member of the state legislature since Reconstruction in 1967 and later served as the state’s first Black juvenile court judge and appellate judge.
When Morial entered the 1977 mayoral race, few gave him a chance. Facing seasoned politicians and the powerful political machines that had long dominated city hall, he ran on a message of reform, competence and inclusion.
On election night, he won with about 90,500 votes to opponent Joseph DiRosa’s 84,300, carried by overwhelming support from Black voters and a crucial share of white progressives.
Morial’s victory transformed New Orleans politics. For the first time, the city’s leadership reflected its majority-Black population. His administration expanded opportunities for Black city workers and business owners and continued the push for fair hiring practices begun under his predecessor, Moon Landrieu.
His election inspired a new generation of Black leaders in Louisiana and across the South. Morial’s son, Marc Morial, would later follow in his footsteps, serving as mayor from 1994 to 2002.
