Octavius V. Catto was a civil rights activist, educator, and athlete based in Philadelphia who became a martyr of racial inequality and struggle in 1871. Cotto was the first African-American to have a statue erected on Philadelphia’s public lands.
Catto was born free in Charleston, South Carolina in February 22, 1839 to a prominent mixed-race family, moving north and settling in Philadelphia. A stellar student, Catto early on began speaking out against racial injustice while employing a peaceful approach to racial harmony by way of education and collaboration.
When the U.S. Civil War was underway, Catto joined forces with other Black activists such as Frederick Douglass, using his connections to eventually rally Colored Troops and lead one of the first volunteer brigades when Confederate forces attacked the city. Beyond his patriotism, Catto aligned with the Republican Party, which was seen then as one avenue Blacks could gain equal political footing with whites. Catto was also a known cricket and baseball player, and involved himself in several integration efforts across the city. (READ MORE)
