Blacks in Politics, Part 2
Photo Essay
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With the foundation laid by the black politicians of the nineteenth century like Hiram Rhodes Revels, Joseph Hayne Rainey, and Blanche K. Bruce, black politicians of the twentieth century continued to break ground by entering new and higher positions in the political world. In the first half of the twentieth century there was a marked absence of African Americans elected to public office. At times politicians such as Oscar Stanton DePriest and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. were the only elected representatives of their race and had to shoulder the burden of being the political voice for an entire people. As the century progressed, however, African Americans came together in various ways to strengthen their voice politically and to play an active role in governing the country. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Black Cabinet and the Congressional Black Caucus were able to bring together blocs of black politicians to help advance policies and laws that benefitted their black constituents. Over time the number of African Americans elected to public office steadily increased as did the level of authority and influence they were able to achieve. This month's photo essay expands on last month's essay by looking more closely at African Americans who have had a particularly significant impact in politics.
Featured Articles
The following articles have been selected to help guide readers who want to learn more about influential black politicians who have worked to break down racial barriers. (Access to the following articles is available only to subscribers.)
Biographies
- Stephanie Tubbs Jones
- John F. Conyers, Jr.
- Maxine Waters
- Charles Rangel
- Bobby Rush
- Deval Patrick
- Louis Stokes
- Sharon Pratt Kelly
- Harvey Gantt
- Harold Washington
- Barbara Charline Jordan
- Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
- John Mercer Langston
- John Roy Lynch
- Pierre Caliste Landry
- Robert Smalls
- P.B.S Pinchback
