2 Equals 12

2 Equals 12

Topic: U.S. Senator

One notable U.S. Senator in Black history is Hiram Rhodes Revels. He was the first African American to serve in the U.S. Senate, representing Mississippi during the Reconstruction era. Revels was born free in North Carolina in 1827 and became a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1870, he was elected to fill the Senate seat once held by Jefferson Davis, who had left to become the president of the Confederacy.

Revels was a strong advocate for civil rights and equality for African Americans. During his time in the Senate, he supported desegregation and education initiatives. Despite facing discrimination and opposition from some of his white colleagues, Revels delivered a powerful speech advocating for equal rights and the need for unity among all Americans.

Hiram Rhodes Revels' historic tenure in the U.S. Senate paved the way for future Black political leaders and was a significant moment in the fight for racial equality in America.