Celebrating Black History: Remembering Georgiaâs âOriginal 33â Celebrating Black History: Remembering Georgiaâs âOriginal 33â By Dawn Baker | February 23, 2021 at 4:04 PM EST - Updated February 24 at 8:10 PM SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Did you know that some of the first Black elected lawmakers in the nation were from the State of Georgia? After the Emancipation Proclamation, laws changed and Blacks were allowed to run for office. In 1868, thirty-three freed African men won seats in the Georgia legislature. Six of them had ties to the Coastal Empire. Rep. William. A. Golden represented Liberty County. Chatham County had two representatives - Rep. James Ward Porter and Rep. James M. Simms. Sen. Aaron Alpeoria Bradley represented Bryan, Chatham and Effingham counties.