Was john hanson black or white?

John Hanson was not black but he did serve as the president of the first Continental Congress and so is sometimes referred to as the first president.

(There was a black John Hanson who was a prominent Senator in Liberia. People get the two confused from time to time. )

The American John Hanson served as President (1781-1782) under the Articles of Confederation. Hanson's position as president was not at all like the position of President under the United States Constitution. His main job was to chair meetings of the convention and serve as a sort of corresponding secretary for the Congress when it was not in session. Therefore, even though Hanson was in some sense the first president he get only a minor mention in the history books. He was honored by the US Postal Service with a postal card in 1972 and a commemorative stamp in 1981.