in 1889 a white political faction called the jaybirds seized control of the fort bend county government by violence in the jaybird-woodpecker war. since the passage of the reconstruction acts in 1867, the black population and their white political allies had consistently won county elections and blacks often held political office. after 1889, the jaybirds passed jim crow laws to ensure that no blacks, hispanics or jews were allowed to participate in the nomination of local democratic party candidates. in 1950, a well-to-do african-american farmer, willie melton of kendleton decided to challenge the restriction and vote in the democratic primary. melton enlisted naacp attorney william j. durham to notify the jay bird democratic association that they were violating the laws and that blacks wanted to vote in the primary. the jay bird association countered that they were a private club and were within their rights to restrict membership.