US Congressman. He was the first African-American to win a seat in the United States House of Representatives in the 20th century. From 1904 to 1908, he was member of the board of commissioners of Cook County, Illinois and member of the city council from 1915 to 1917. He was elected as a Republican to the Seventy-first and to the two succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1929 to January 3, 1935. During the 1920s and 1930s, he became the unofficial spokesman to the then 11 million African-Americans. He proposed that states who discriminated against blacks be given fewer congressional seats and that a monthly pension be given to ex-slaves over the age of seventy-five.
US Congressman. He was the first African-American to win a seat in the United States House of Representatives in the 20th century. From 1904 to 1908, he was member of the board of commissioners of Cook County, Illinois and member of the city council from 1915 to 1917. He was elected as a Republican to the Seventy-first and to the two succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1929 to January 3, 1935. During the 1920s and 1930s, he became the unofficial spokesman to the then 11 million African-Americans. He proposed that states who discriminated against blacks be given fewer congressional seats and that a monthly pension be given to ex-slaves over the age of seventy-five.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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