Hiram Rhodes Revels was a prominent African American leader, minister, and educator in the 19th century. He was born free in North Carolina in 1827 and went on to study in Illinois, where he became involved in the abolitionist movement. After the Civil War, he settled in Mississippi, where he became involved in politics and was elected as a Republican to the state senate.
In 1870, Revels was elected to the United States Senate from the state of Mississippi, becoming the first African American to ever sit in Congress. At that time, Senators were elected by the state legislature- Revels was elected with a vote of 81 to 15 to serve the final year of an empty senate position. He took his oath of office on February 25, 1870, marking a significant moment in American history. His election to the Senate was part of a larger effort to reconstruct the South after the Civil War and to ensure that former slaves were granted full citizenship and political rights.
Revels served in the Senate for just one year from 1870 to 1871. During this time, he worked to promote the rights of African Americans and to support policies that would help the South recover from the Civil War. He also spoke out against the Ku Klux Klan and other groups that sought to undermine the rights of African Americans.
Revels faced significant opposition during his time in the Senate, with many Southern Democrats challenging his right to hold office. Despite this opposition, he remained steadfast in his commitment to promoting the rights of African Americans and to working for the betterment of the South.
Hiram Rhodes Revels was a trailblazer and a symbol of hope for African Americans during a time of great uncertainty and change in American history. His legacy continues to inspire and his place in history is a testament to the progress that has been made in the fight for racial equality.
References:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hiram-Rhodes-Revels
https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/senate-stories/First-African-American-Senator.htm
