Available as a podcast. Find it where you listen to podcasts. Next on American History tvs american artifacts, we visit the Canon House Office building to see artifacts that tell the story of africanamericans in congress in the 20th century. Im sarah elliott, the curator at the house of representatives. And im matt rauz nwasniewsk. We want to talk about africanamerican representation in the 20th century, and we have a lot of artifacts from the house collection that have to do with that and a lot of history to cover. And the last africanamerican sort of to be elected in the 19th century leaves in 1901, george white of north carolina, and then its a long time before another africanamerican comes into the house. Thats is Oscar Depriest from illinois. We have a couple really rare artifacts from Oscar Depriest from the 1920s and 30s, but before i launch into them because i love them so much, matt, tell us a little bit about oscar and how he got into congress. So theres a long period, almost
Africanamericans come to congress in the 19th century is not one a lot of people are familiar with. We actually had 22 africanamericans serve between 1870 and 1901. 20 in the house, two in the senate. Its largely a house story. And it has to do with the role of congress during the civil war and the in 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 Stevens who was chairman of the ways and Means Committee and a very powerful leader. Also people like henry winter davis. In the Senate People like charles somner and benjamin wade. And they led to not only prosecute the war more vigorously but also to have a reconstruction after the war but was one that was not so lenient towards Southern States and was going to ensure that Political Rights were extended to af
Every saturday, at 8 00 p. M. Eastern. Lectures in history is also available as a podcast. Find it where you listen to podcasts. Each week, American History tvs american artifacts explores the history of the United States through objects. Up next, we visit capitol hill to talk to house historian and curator about the history of africanamericans in congress and see a selection of artifacts from the collection. The story of how africanamericans come to congress is not one that a lot of people are familiar with. We had 22 africanamericans serve between 1870 and 1901. 20 in the house, two in the senate. Its 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 Stevens
We know he did and he was attempting to put a marker down. This wont be forgotten and will come back. In the center we have the two africanamerican to served in the senate. By the muchrounded larger numbers of African Americans who served in the house. There is joseph rainey, the first africanamerican in the house. And it takes it all the way around to all of them who were there. I find it so poignant in that, when this was printed no one knew how long would it be. Did they think 20 years would be a long time . Did they think it would be just a moment. What did happen in this print it looks terribly damaged, like it has had a hard life. As if at some point someone took this and pasted it on probably a wall. Underneath that is wallpaper. Underneath the print and on top of the board is wallpaper. It was perhaps painted on someones wall. In sort of recognition of the things that happened. We acquired it in d. C. It may have never left the nations capital, unlike black representation that
Tvs american artifacts we visit the Cannon House Office building to see artifacts that tell the story of africanamericans in congress in the 20th century. Im farar elliott. And im matt waz knsniewski. We wanted to talk about africanamerican representation in the 20th century. We have a lot of artifacts from the house collection that have to do with that and a lot of history to cover. And the last africanamerican to be elected in the 19th century leaves in 1901, george white of north carolina. And then its a long time before another africanamerican comes into the house. And that is Oscar Depriest from illinois. And we have a couple of really rare artifacts from Oscar Depriest from the 1920s and 30s. But before i launch into them, because i love them so much, matt, tell us a little bit about Oscar Depriest and how he got into congress. So, theres a long period, almost three decades, after George Henry White leaves congress where theres no africanamericans who serve in either the house or