THIS MONTH IN HISTORY

Black History Month

What better way to celebrate Black History Month this election year, than to highlight black pioneer political leaders.

The first black US Senator was Hiram Rhodes Revels. Revels (1827-1901) attended a seminary in Indiana before he became a preacher in 1845. During the Civil War, he helped recruit two black regiments and also served as a chaplain.

Revels was in the US Senate from February 1870 to March 1871. His life was dedicated to religious and educational offices. (Pictured here is a handwritten 1871 letter by Revels.)

Joseph Hayne Rainey (1832-1887) was the first black person to serve in the US House of Representatives. He was born into slavery but his father was able to purchase his family's freedom. Rainey worked as a barber but was pressed into service by the Confederacy. In 1862 he escaped to Bermuda, returning to the US after the Civil War ended.

Rainey was a delegate to the 1868 South Carolina state constitutional convention. His term in the US House of Representatives was from 1870 to 1879. He also was the first black representative to preside over the House in 1874. (Above is his signature from WallBuilders' collection.)

Josiah Walls was born into slavery in 1842 in Virginia. He was a private servant to a Confederate soldier until his emancipation by Union soldiers in 1862. Walls received some education before he decided to serve with the Union Army from 1863-1865.

After his wartime service, Walls lived in Florida and used his earnings from working as a teacher to buy a farm. His elected positions

were: state senator (1869-1872, 1876-1879) and US Congress (1871-1876). After his political career Walls returned to his farm and also managed Florida Normal College's farm until his death in 1905. (Pictured is his signature from WallBuilders' collection.)

As we remember some of our black political patriots, we encourage you to learn more about other black history heroes throughout the year. It is important to keep alive the memory of these American heroes!

Presenting America’s forgotten history and heroes

with an emphasis on our moral, religious and constitutional heritage.