It was five years after the Civil War. Hiram Revels had fought for his rights as a free, well-educated Black man in Mississippi for years as a minister. Now he was fighting again – but this time was different.
He was the political enemy of racist senators who wanted the U.S. Congress to remain lily-white. They were willing to do ANYTHING to keep it that way, and Revels was a huge threat. Nevertheless, he had to keep his cool. Why was he so dangerous to them?
He was now a Senator! Revel’s election to the U.S. Senate showed that when we vote for our interests, we’re more powerful than racism and oppression! Black voters helped get Revels elected, and white supremacists were terrified. So how did they try to stop him?
They refused to recognize him as a Senator! Because Mississippi had seceded before the Civil War, Revels had to wait until it was readmitted into the Union. Racists came up with all types of excuses to nullify his Senate seat and keep him out of power. Did they succeed?
No! Revels used his political power to appoint Black leaders and fight for the rights of Black people in Mississippi and across the nation. He made a huge impact, but everyday actions are important, too. How can you uplift our people today?