1901 - William Henry Ellis, Afro-Mexican Businessman, Promotes Migration Plan to Mexico

On May 6, 1901, Afro-Mexican entrepreneur William Henry Ellis, born into slavery in Texas but passing as Mexican to navigate racial barriers, publicly proposed a bold plan: encouraging African Americans to migrate to Mexico for better economic and social opportunities. At the height of Jim Crow repression, Ellis envisioned Mexico as a land of freedom where Black families could escape racial violence and acquire land. Working closely with Mexican President Porfirio Díaz’s government, he offered legal expertise, translated between English and Spanish, and marketed Mexico’s promise of equality. Though his plans ultimately faced political obstacles, Ellis’ work represented an early form of Black internationalism — seeking liberation beyond U.S. borders. His story challenges traditional narratives of African American resistance by highlighting how some sought freedom through transnational migration rather than solely domestic struggle. Ellis remains a hidden figure whose life reshaped the meaning of Black mobility and global strategy.