Celebrating Hiram Revels

On February 25th, 1870, visitors in the Senate galleries burst into applause as Mississippi Senator-elect Hiram Revels, entered the Chamber to take his oath of office.

During the Civil War, he helped form regiments of African American soldiers and established schools for freed slaves. Though Revels’ credentials had arrived in the Senate on February 23rd, 1870, he was immediately blocked by a few members who had no desire to see a Black man serve in Congress.

Massachusetts senator Charles Sumner brought the debate to an end with a stirring speech. Then, by an overwhelming margin, the Senate voted 48 to 8 to seat Revels. And just three weeks later, the Senate galleries again filled to capacity as Hiram Revels rose to make his first formal speech.

After serving one year in the Senate, Hiram returned to Mississippi, where he later became the first president of Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College. He built schools for Black children, served as interim Secretary of State, and became Senior Editor of the Southwestern Christian Advocate.

Hiram Revels: the first African American senator, American patriot, and strong advocate of the education of all Americans.

Join us this month, on-air and online, during Black History Month on BRIGHT-FM as we journey through history.