The story of how africanamericans come to congress in the 19th century is not one a lot of people are familiar with. We actually have 22 africanamericans serve between 1870 and 1901. 20 in the house. 2 in the senate. Largely a house story. And it has to do with the role of congress during the civil war, and in the decade after. During the civil war there were a group of radicals in congress, radicals, because they believed in the equality of africanamericans, and wanted to create a society in the south after the war that was a multiracial society. These were radicals in the house, like thaddeus stephens, who was chairman of the ways and Means Committee and a very powerful leader. Also people like henry winter davis. Washburn. In the Senate People like Charles Sumner and benjamin wade. And they really drove the agenda and pushed the Lincoln Administration to not only prosecute the war more vigorously but also to have a reconstruction after the war that was one that was not so lenient to
The house collection that have to do with that and a lot of history to cover. And the last African American to be elected in the 19th century leaves in 1901, george white of North Carolina. Then its a long time before another African American comes into the house, and that is oscar from illinois. We have a couple of very rare artifacts from oscar de priest from the 19 twenties and thirties. Before i launch into this because i love him so much. Matt, tell us a little bit about Oscar Depriest and how he got into congress. There is a period of almost three decades after George Henry White leaves congress where there is no African Americans who serve in either the house or the senate. That has everything to do with the jim crow laws that go on the books in the south. And the way that that changes overtime during those decades, there is a critical thing going on in the south where African Americans begin to leave the south and move northward as part of a multi decade movement that would lat
The story of how African Americans come to congress is not an easy story. We had many serve, we had how story. But it has to do with, the role of congress and during the civil war and in the decade after, and during the civil war there was a group of radicals in congress, radicals because they believed in the equality of African Americans and wanted to create a society in the south after the war, that was a most racial society. These were radicals in the house, like fadi is stevens, who is chairman of the ways and means committee. And was a leader, also people like henry winter davis, elijah wash burn. The senate, Charles Sumner, an andrew wade. And they really drove the agenda, and push the lincoln administration, to not only prosecute the war more vigorously, but also to have a reconstruction after the war, that was one that was not so lenient towards Southern States. That would assure Political Rights were extended to African Americans. Also the war ends in 1865, but how do you get
20th century. We have a lot of artifacts from the house collection and have to do with that. And a lot of history to cover. And, the last africanamerican to be elected to the 19th century was 1901, george white of north carolina, and that was a long time before another africanamerican comes into the house. And we have a couple of where artifacts from the 19 twenties and thirties. But before i launch into that, because i love them so much. Tell us a little bit about oscar priest and how he got into congress. Theres a long period, almost three decades after George Henry White where there is no African Americans who served in the house or senate. That has everything to do with the gym crow laws that them go on the books in the south. The way that that changes over time during those decades, there is a critical thing going on in the south where African Americans begin to leave the cell and move northward as part of a multi decade movement that would later be called the great migration. Tha
She went after the leadership very publicly. Well, very shortly, they came around and put her on to the Committee Assignments that she wanted. One of the artifacts that we have that im particularly fond of is this one. Its a letter from j. Ed guard hoover to congresswoman khan and the important part of this isnt actually what hes writing. Whats important is dear mother khan. And its an odd phrasing for j. Ed card hoover. But she was known very much as the mother of the fbi. So that was often how he referred to her. So this is a fascinating piece of lobbying and playing up that affiliation and that close tie that they had. By the time we get to the late 1930s, early 1940s, were beginning to see a Different Group from that Pioneer Group of women coming to congress. World war ii reshapes the rolled of women in society generally, women hold a lot of jobs that men previously held as men go off to fight in the service. And women who come into congress during that era begin to advocate more o