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Hon. B. W. Arnett, 1886. African-American civil rights activist, politician, educator, minister, bishop and author Benjamin William Arnett. He was the first black man to serve as foreman of an otherwise all-white jury as well as being the first African-American to represent a predominantly white constituency when he was elected to the Ohio General Assembly. From 'The black laws! : speech of Hon. B.W. Arnett of Greene County, and Hon. J.A. Brown of Cuyahoga County, in the Ohio House of Representatives, March 10, 1886'.