Black Congressmen

During the Reconstruction Era, 17 African Americans served in the U.S. Congress, with 15 in the House of Representatives and two in the Senate. In 1874, the Mississippi legislature elected Blanche K. Bruce to a full Senate term. Bruce, who had escaped slavery at the start of the Civil War, made history in 1879 as the first African American to preside over the Senate.

The brave and groundbreaking contributions of Revels, Bruce, and the other African American congressmen during the Reconstruction Era are of immense significance. While the fight for complete equality would persist for many years, their extraordinary achievements paved the way for future generations to follow. 

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