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Transcripts For CSPAN3 American Artifacts 20160919 : vimarsa
Transcripts For CSPAN3 American Artifacts 20160919 : vimarsa
CSPAN3 American Artifacts September 19, 2016
Century washe 19th george white of
North Carolina
in 1901. It is a long time before another
African American
comes into the house. That is oscar dupree from illinois. We have a couple of really rare artifacts from him from the 1920s and 30s. Before i launch into them, matt, tell us about oscar dupree. And how he got into congress. Decades is almost three after
George Henry White
leaves congress when there are no
African American
s who served in the house or senate to that has everything to do with the jim crow laws that go on the books in the south. The way that that changes over time during those decades, there is a critical thing going on in the south were
African American
s begin to leave the south and move northward as part of a multidecade movement that would later be called the great migration. That begins, depending on which historian you talk to, the 1890s and runs through world war ii. It picks up momentum around world war i as there is a need in the north to fill industrial jobs and jobs that have been occupied by men who are going off to fight in the war. Is the tens of thousands of
African American
s moving northward for the first time out of the rural south to industrial jobs in chicago, st. Louis, cleveland, pittsburgh, new york. Over time, the
African American
iesulation in the cit increases. African americans are gradually recruited by the
Political Party
and
Oscar Depriest
is a perfect example of that process. He actually is born in the south. He and his family are part of a group who moved to the midwest to kansas. He goes to grade school and high school in kansas. He finds his way to chicago and in the 1890s and moves up to through the political system. He becomes a chicago city councilman. His career has some peaks and valleys. 1920s, he is a part of the republican political machine in chicago. As a ward alderman. In 1928 when the sitting congressman from chicago, a powerful republican who is on the appropriations committee, passes away, in the fall runs for, de priest the seats and he wins. In 1929, he comes to be house of representatives. One of my favorite things about
Oscar Depriest
s career is this little tiny button we have in the collection from his career. It is really small. It says depriest for congress. One of the things i love most about it is they are very rare. There were probably not many around initially. Very few survive. I think i have only seen one or two others in existence. If you think about the tiny lapel,worn on someones looking like any other button, this actually represents a revolution, the attempt to elect an
African American
to congress for the first time in decades. The presence of this little piece of metal would have been a real statement on the part of whoever was wearing it. I love that it has survived and whoeverk to the place owned it wanted him to end up, which was the u. S. Congress. , he found a lot that he was interested in, a lot that came to him that perhaps he did not ask for in the way he was received, the issues he handled, all kinds of stuff like that. He does end up being the circuit representative for
African American
s in general. Surrogate representative for
African American
s in general. Absolutely. He had come up through the chicago political machine and while he had advocated for his constituency in chicago which was largely
African American
, you did not get the sense that he embraced this role as a representative of
African American
s generally until he comes to congress. A couple of things happen right off the bat almost immediately that force him to take a public role for
African American
political rights. He is symbolically and in fact the first
African American
to serve in a long time. But when he comes to congress, theres a bit of a firestorm in the press. It was tradition for the first lady, in this case, herbert hoovers wife, to have 18 for a tea for all the congressional spouses, the wives in the late 1920s. That caused consternation because there were several
Southern States
that objected to the fact that the wives of their members of
Congress Might
actually have to have tea in the white house with an
African American
woman. States had their legislatures pass resolutions asking hoover to make sure that this did not happen. What hoover did was divide the tea party into a couple different sessions and the one that
Jessie Depriest
was invited to was a very carefully preselected group of congresswomen who he knew would not object. This get out there in the press priestcar de pilloried the
Southern State
legislatures that had spoken up. This is the first roadblock that he runs into. Another one happens in the house about where his office is located. Right. People dont want their offices next to his. Members say i will not serve. They dont want to be serving with an
African American
. When we were doing research recently on the history of who had what office, in the
House Office Building
it turned out , that the place that oscar de priest was assigned was a bathroom. They ripped out the plumbing and turned it into an office for him. One has to wonder, did they choose that space because it could happen at the last minute and sidestep people objecting in advance because it will thought the bathroom was next door . It is definitely one of the things that but up from lots of primary
Source Research
where we learn the stories behind the stories. One other episode happens late in his career when a staffer, his chief of staff and a
Family Member
of the chief of staff are asked to leave the house restaurant and move to a segregated room where
African American
s could get lunch in an adjoining space. The priest objected to this unsurprisingly and defended his secretary, his chief of staff. And went after the chairman of what was then called the accounts committee in the house who had dictated the restaurant needed to be segregated. He comes on to the house floor and the press pays a lot of attention to this. His line is, if we cannot have freedom, if we cannot have the equality under the dome of the capital, then where in gods name are we going to get it . The house creates a special committee to investigate segregation in the restaurant. But the issue dies in the committee. The restaurant remains segregated. Well into the 20 century. That is interesting because it brings up for me thinking about not just the experience of
African American
members in the 19th century and early part of the 20th century, but what the the experience was of the
African American
staff. The restaurant is a good example. In the 19th century, the privilege and responsibility of running the house restaurant was given as a concession. Somebody could have almost a franchise of running it. In the 1860s, after the civil war, that is awarded to a famous
African American
restauranteur. He is famous as a caterer. He comes down to run that restaurant. Is as someoneence who is a businessman operating in that space. Reconstruction, there are some salient examples of
African American
s the sort of the pioneers of being on staff, in the same way reconstruction is for
African American
members. There are very few in number but they manage to be in positions that have not been created for them but positions that have some weight and purpose in the house. And symbolic importance that these individuals were put into these positions. One of them was william smith, a house librarian in the 1880s, an appointed positions. It is one of the most prominent positions in the institution and at that point he is one of the highestranking
African American
s in the federal government. He had been brought along slowly. He first came to the house and worked in the library during the civil war. He had been promoted by radical senator sumnere who helped push him along in his career. Another one who is appointed during reconstruction is the first
African American
page to serve in the house on the floor. Alfred powell of manchester , virginia, just south across the james from richmond. He is appointed by a member who is part of the reconstructed virginia government. He is a carpetbagger from the north. A former union officer. And he serves in a district that represents richmond. He is appointed in 1871. We know he serves about a year and a half in the house. The other connection is that he is the great grandnephew of john mercer langston. He was serving as the dean or president of
Howard University
at the time. Later, he will be in congress. Imself t there is this interesting network of people who know other people and are able to move things around and make things happen. Then we get from
George Downing
in the 1860s running the house restaurant right up to the chief of staff for oscar de priest being refused service in the house. Later in his career, he champions these issues that need championing and are not necessarily related to his constituency. Then he becomes a
National Figure
. Another object in the collection that relates to that is a program from a speech he is giving in dayton, ohio. Very far from chicago. He does not say what hes got to talk about. Hes just sort of speaking. It happens at the local junior high school. There is a band. Hes been presented as a statesman important to the
African American
community nationally, including in dayton. Towards the end of his career and earlier in his congressional career, he is part of this notion of surrogate representation. The fact that you are representing people beyond the borders of your district or state. You are a
National Figure
. We dont really think of oscar de priest now that much as a
National Figure
. We do. But many people dont. In the late 1940s, some arrive who do start to become
National Figure
s. De priest leaves congress in 1935. He is defeated for reelection by another
African American
from chicago, arthur mitchell. He is the first
African American
elected as a democrat to congress. What you begin to see in that decade of the 1930s into the 1940s and you see it very clearly in this chicago district is that there is a shift in
African American
allegiance away party to theblican
Democratic Party
during the new deal. Part of that has to do with the fact that
African American
s are recruited by democratic city leaders. There is the promise of greater political participation. Which is that promise that pulled
African American
s out of the south during the great migration to begin with. And also the fact that they have a slightly greater voice in the new
Deal Coalition
that
Franklin Roosevelt
puts together. They begin to be drawn toward the
Democratic Party
. Mitchell is the embodiment of that. Mitchell, however, is the complete opposite of decreased. He chooses not to be a surrogate representative. He downplays the fact that he is in
African American
in congress. He serves for a couple of times and is replaced by another , whor named
William Dawson
is one of the longestserving
African American
s in house history. Dawson, another individual who started off as a republican and moved to the
Democratic Party
in chicago. He is important because by the late 1940s, he chairs a that will become what we know call oversight in government reform. It was
Government Operations
back in the he chairs the 1940s. Committee with the exception of a single term for the rest of his career. For two decades. He is another member who comes into the institution and unlike de priest who challenges things, he feels like he can make changes by fitting into these institution and trying to effect change from his position of power. In addition to being
Committee Chair
and part of the institutional approach to things, he has a portrait of himself as
Many Committee
en did, and it is one of the first portraits of
African American
s in the
United States
congress which raises it to a very elevated place. William dawsons portrait is the first
African American
Committee Chair
man portrait. Portrait inerful that it represents him as the embodiment of the
Committee Chair
. It is not one where there are lots of sort of other elements to give you clues about who he is. Its about the stature of the man. He is standing alone. He is standing in a very conservative blue suit. He looks like a member of congress. That is something that is really important. Part of this is his approach and many peoples approach to working in congress as members is to be part of this important institution. He uses that and becomes an incredibly long serving
Committee Chair
. William dawson as chairman of
Government Operations
was a member who had a legislative style that was a workhorse style. He was behind the scenes. He did not want to be in the media. Very quiet. Determined but very lowkey. He contrasts his style of legislating markedly with the fellow represented here in these objects. This is a wonderful book we have. It is by adam
Clayton Powell
. One of my favorite members of congress. It was published right after he is elected in 1944. Adam
Clayton Powell
was definitely a man ready with a program for progress. And ready to tell you all about it. He was the pastor of a
Baptist Church
in harlem. He represented a harlem district. He served a very long time in congress. This is from the beginning of his congressional career. This later moving from the paper is a recording he made. It is a series of speaking meditations on a number of different issues. End his careerook an which is very long. He is no
William Dawson
. He has a different approach to how to do things. All human beings, black and white rich and poor, equal in the sight of god. Keep your faith and the life of your fellow man even though he abuses you. When he abuses you, he makes himself a lesser man. A great man once said, love your enemies. Bless them that curse you. Do good to them that hate you and pray. Pray. Pray. Pray for them. Pray for them which use you and persecute you. Keep your faith. Up through the 1970s, powell was the person who kind of embodied civil rights in the house. Civil rights in congress. Hes elected in 1944. He and dawson are the only two members of congress for a number of congresses until the early 1950s. And two very contrasting styles whereas dawson is behind the , scenes and powell is out front talking to the media, pushing against segregation practices in the house restaurant. In the press galleries, in terms of accreditation of
African American
reporters. He is constantly pushing the envelope. There is a great story that we have covered in our book of black americans in congress where sam rayburn, the revered long time speaker of the house texas, has a conversation with powell when he first comes in and the gist of it is freshman listen quietly and learn. Dont go causing a ruckus. Powell,u can imagine this new yorker from harlem listening to the texan explained ing to him the ways of the house and he looked at him and said, mr. Speaker, i have a bomb in both hands and am ready to hurl them. But he had a great relationship with rayburn. According to rayburns account afterward. He is constantly pressing the envelope in the house. He gets onto the education labor committee, a very influential committee. Particularly by the 1960s when we go through a reform period during the kennedy and johnson administrations and particularly at the start of the
Great Society
with lyndon johnson. He is chairman of the committee and it pushes through 50 different measures related to education reforms. A very substantial legislative or in addition to being a show horse style. Is interesting that those of the two aspects. There is a part where he is known as mr. Civil rights and he is very willing to champion civil rights on all levels, both legislatively and into the life of the house. I remember you telling me once about even something as minor as sitting in the
House Chamber
and where you sit in the
North Carolina<\/a> in 1901. It is a long time before another
African American<\/a> comes into the house. That is oscar dupree from illinois. We have a couple of really rare artifacts from him from the 1920s and 30s. Before i launch into them, matt, tell us about oscar dupree. And how he got into congress. Decades is almost three after
George Henry White<\/a> leaves congress when there are no
African American<\/a>s who served in the house or senate to that has everything to do with the jim crow laws that go on the books in the south. The way that that changes over time during those decades, there is a critical thing going on in the south were
African American<\/a>s begin to leave the south and move northward as part of a multidecade movement that would later be called the great migration. That begins, depending on which historian you talk to, the 1890s and runs through world war ii. It picks up momentum around world war i as there is a need in the north to fill industrial jobs and jobs that have been occupied by men who are going off to fight in the war. Is the tens of thousands of
African American<\/a>s moving northward for the first time out of the rural south to industrial jobs in chicago, st. Louis, cleveland, pittsburgh, new york. Over time, the
African American<\/a> iesulation in the cit increases. African americans are gradually recruited by the
Political Party<\/a> and
Oscar Depriest<\/a> is a perfect example of that process. He actually is born in the south. He and his family are part of a group who moved to the midwest to kansas. He goes to grade school and high school in kansas. He finds his way to chicago and in the 1890s and moves up to through the political system. He becomes a chicago city councilman. His career has some peaks and valleys. 1920s, he is a part of the republican political machine in chicago. As a ward alderman. In 1928 when the sitting congressman from chicago, a powerful republican who is on the appropriations committee, passes away, in the fall runs for, de priest the seats and he wins. In 1929, he comes to be house of representatives. One of my favorite things about
Oscar Depriest<\/a>s career is this little tiny button we have in the collection from his career. It is really small. It says depriest for congress. One of the things i love most about it is they are very rare. There were probably not many around initially. Very few survive. I think i have only seen one or two others in existence. If you think about the tiny lapel,worn on someones looking like any other button, this actually represents a revolution, the attempt to elect an
African American<\/a> to congress for the first time in decades. The presence of this little piece of metal would have been a real statement on the part of whoever was wearing it. I love that it has survived and whoeverk to the place owned it wanted him to end up, which was the u. S. Congress. , he found a lot that he was interested in, a lot that came to him that perhaps he did not ask for in the way he was received, the issues he handled, all kinds of stuff like that. He does end up being the circuit representative for
African American<\/a>s in general. Surrogate representative for
African American<\/a>s in general. Absolutely. He had come up through the chicago political machine and while he had advocated for his constituency in chicago which was largely
African American<\/a>, you did not get the sense that he embraced this role as a representative of
African American<\/a>s generally until he comes to congress. A couple of things happen right off the bat almost immediately that force him to take a public role for
African American<\/a> political rights. He is symbolically and in fact the first
African American<\/a> to serve in a long time. But when he comes to congress, theres a bit of a firestorm in the press. It was tradition for the first lady, in this case, herbert hoovers wife, to have 18 for a tea for all the congressional spouses, the wives in the late 1920s. That caused consternation because there were several
Southern States<\/a> that objected to the fact that the wives of their members of
Congress Might<\/a> actually have to have tea in the white house with an
African American<\/a> woman. States had their legislatures pass resolutions asking hoover to make sure that this did not happen. What hoover did was divide the tea party into a couple different sessions and the one that
Jessie Depriest<\/a> was invited to was a very carefully preselected group of congresswomen who he knew would not object. This get out there in the press priestcar de pilloried the
Southern State<\/a> legislatures that had spoken up. This is the first roadblock that he runs into. Another one happens in the house about where his office is located. Right. People dont want their offices next to his. Members say i will not serve. They dont want to be serving with an
African American<\/a>. When we were doing research recently on the history of who had what office, in the
House Office Building<\/a> it turned out , that the place that oscar de priest was assigned was a bathroom. They ripped out the plumbing and turned it into an office for him. One has to wonder, did they choose that space because it could happen at the last minute and sidestep people objecting in advance because it will thought the bathroom was next door . It is definitely one of the things that but up from lots of primary
Source Research<\/a> where we learn the stories behind the stories. One other episode happens late in his career when a staffer, his chief of staff and a
Family Member<\/a> of the chief of staff are asked to leave the house restaurant and move to a segregated room where
African American<\/a>s could get lunch in an adjoining space. The priest objected to this unsurprisingly and defended his secretary, his chief of staff. And went after the chairman of what was then called the accounts committee in the house who had dictated the restaurant needed to be segregated. He comes on to the house floor and the press pays a lot of attention to this. His line is, if we cannot have freedom, if we cannot have the equality under the dome of the capital, then where in gods name are we going to get it . The house creates a special committee to investigate segregation in the restaurant. But the issue dies in the committee. The restaurant remains segregated. Well into the 20 century. That is interesting because it brings up for me thinking about not just the experience of
African American<\/a> members in the 19th century and early part of the 20th century, but what the the experience was of the
African American<\/a> staff. The restaurant is a good example. In the 19th century, the privilege and responsibility of running the house restaurant was given as a concession. Somebody could have almost a franchise of running it. In the 1860s, after the civil war, that is awarded to a famous
African American<\/a> restauranteur. He is famous as a caterer. He comes down to run that restaurant. Is as someoneence who is a businessman operating in that space. Reconstruction, there are some salient examples of
African American<\/a>s the sort of the pioneers of being on staff, in the same way reconstruction is for
African American<\/a> members. There are very few in number but they manage to be in positions that have not been created for them but positions that have some weight and purpose in the house. And symbolic importance that these individuals were put into these positions. One of them was william smith, a house librarian in the 1880s, an appointed positions. It is one of the most prominent positions in the institution and at that point he is one of the highestranking
African American<\/a>s in the federal government. He had been brought along slowly. He first came to the house and worked in the library during the civil war. He had been promoted by radical senator sumnere who helped push him along in his career. Another one who is appointed during reconstruction is the first
African American<\/a> page to serve in the house on the floor. Alfred powell of manchester , virginia, just south across the james from richmond. He is appointed by a member who is part of the reconstructed virginia government. He is a carpetbagger from the north. A former union officer. And he serves in a district that represents richmond. He is appointed in 1871. We know he serves about a year and a half in the house. The other connection is that he is the great grandnephew of john mercer langston. He was serving as the dean or president of
Howard University<\/a> at the time. Later, he will be in congress. Imself t there is this interesting network of people who know other people and are able to move things around and make things happen. Then we get from
George Downing<\/a> in the 1860s running the house restaurant right up to the chief of staff for oscar de priest being refused service in the house. Later in his career, he champions these issues that need championing and are not necessarily related to his constituency. Then he becomes a
National Figure<\/a>. Another object in the collection that relates to that is a program from a speech he is giving in dayton, ohio. Very far from chicago. He does not say what hes got to talk about. Hes just sort of speaking. It happens at the local junior high school. There is a band. Hes been presented as a statesman important to the
African American<\/a> community nationally, including in dayton. Towards the end of his career and earlier in his congressional career, he is part of this notion of surrogate representation. The fact that you are representing people beyond the borders of your district or state. You are a
National Figure<\/a>. We dont really think of oscar de priest now that much as a
National Figure<\/a>. We do. But many people dont. In the late 1940s, some arrive who do start to become
National Figure<\/a>s. De priest leaves congress in 1935. He is defeated for reelection by another
African American<\/a> from chicago, arthur mitchell. He is the first
African American<\/a> elected as a democrat to congress. What you begin to see in that decade of the 1930s into the 1940s and you see it very clearly in this chicago district is that there is a shift in
African American<\/a> allegiance away party to theblican
Democratic Party<\/a> during the new deal. Part of that has to do with the fact that
African American<\/a>s are recruited by democratic city leaders. There is the promise of greater political participation. Which is that promise that pulled
African American<\/a>s out of the south during the great migration to begin with. And also the fact that they have a slightly greater voice in the new
Deal Coalition<\/a> that
Franklin Roosevelt<\/a> puts together. They begin to be drawn toward the
Democratic Party<\/a>. Mitchell is the embodiment of that. Mitchell, however, is the complete opposite of decreased. He chooses not to be a surrogate representative. He downplays the fact that he is in
African American<\/a> in congress. He serves for a couple of times and is replaced by another , whor named
William Dawson<\/a> is one of the longestserving
African American<\/a>s in house history. Dawson, another individual who started off as a republican and moved to the
Democratic Party<\/a> in chicago. He is important because by the late 1940s, he chairs a that will become what we know call oversight in government reform. It was
Government Operations<\/a> back in the he chairs the 1940s. Committee with the exception of a single term for the rest of his career. For two decades. He is another member who comes into the institution and unlike de priest who challenges things, he feels like he can make changes by fitting into these institution and trying to effect change from his position of power. In addition to being
Committee Chair<\/a> and part of the institutional approach to things, he has a portrait of himself as
Many Committee<\/a> en did, and it is one of the first portraits of
African American<\/a>s in the
United States<\/a> congress which raises it to a very elevated place. William dawsons portrait is the first
African American<\/a>
Committee Chair<\/a>man portrait. Portrait inerful that it represents him as the embodiment of the
Committee Chair<\/a>. It is not one where there are lots of sort of other elements to give you clues about who he is. Its about the stature of the man. He is standing alone. He is standing in a very conservative blue suit. He looks like a member of congress. That is something that is really important. Part of this is his approach and many peoples approach to working in congress as members is to be part of this important institution. He uses that and becomes an incredibly long serving
Committee Chair<\/a>. William dawson as chairman of
Government Operations<\/a> was a member who had a legislative style that was a workhorse style. He was behind the scenes. He did not want to be in the media. Very quiet. Determined but very lowkey. He contrasts his style of legislating markedly with the fellow represented here in these objects. This is a wonderful book we have. It is by adam
Clayton Powell<\/a>. One of my favorite members of congress. It was published right after he is elected in 1944. Adam
Clayton Powell<\/a> was definitely a man ready with a program for progress. And ready to tell you all about it. He was the pastor of a
Baptist Church<\/a> in harlem. He represented a harlem district. He served a very long time in congress. This is from the beginning of his congressional career. This later moving from the paper is a recording he made. It is a series of speaking meditations on a number of different issues. End his careerook an which is very long. He is no
William Dawson<\/a>. He has a different approach to how to do things. All human beings, black and white rich and poor, equal in the sight of god. Keep your faith and the life of your fellow man even though he abuses you. When he abuses you, he makes himself a lesser man. A great man once said, love your enemies. Bless them that curse you. Do good to them that hate you and pray. Pray. Pray. Pray for them. Pray for them which use you and persecute you. Keep your faith. Up through the 1970s, powell was the person who kind of embodied civil rights in the house. Civil rights in congress. Hes elected in 1944. He and dawson are the only two members of congress for a number of congresses until the early 1950s. And two very contrasting styles whereas dawson is behind the , scenes and powell is out front talking to the media, pushing against segregation practices in the house restaurant. In the press galleries, in terms of accreditation of
African American<\/a> reporters. He is constantly pushing the envelope. There is a great story that we have covered in our book of black americans in congress where sam rayburn, the revered long time speaker of the house texas, has a conversation with powell when he first comes in and the gist of it is freshman listen quietly and learn. Dont go causing a ruckus. Powell,u can imagine this new yorker from harlem listening to the texan explained ing to him the ways of the house and he looked at him and said, mr. Speaker, i have a bomb in both hands and am ready to hurl them. But he had a great relationship with rayburn. According to rayburns account afterward. He is constantly pressing the envelope in the house. He gets onto the education labor committee, a very influential committee. Particularly by the 1960s when we go through a reform period during the kennedy and johnson administrations and particularly at the start of the
Great Society<\/a> with lyndon johnson. He is chairman of the committee and it pushes through 50 different measures related to education reforms. A very substantial legislative or in addition to being a show horse style. Is interesting that those of the two aspects. There is a part where he is known as mr. Civil rights and he is very willing to champion civil rights on all levels, both legislatively and into the life of the house. I remember you telling me once about even something as minor as sitting in the
House Chamber<\/a> and where you sit in the
House Chamber<\/a>, that came up for him. There is another story that one of his biographers tells. Seating in the
House Chamber<\/a> is open as long as you respect the party block tradition. Thdemocrats to the speakers left and republicans to the speakers right. When he came in, there was a prominent southern number who told the press, this man was a chairman of a committee and said, i refuse to sit next to a black man on the house floor. Around andowed him sat down t next to him anytime he sat down. He forced the
Senior Member<\/a> to move around the chamber which a lot of people took note of. Afterwards, powell told the reporter that im a baptist minister by training and i dont know whether to baptize that man or drown him. Powell had a good sense of humor. He serves into the early 1970s. He is one of the longest serving
African American<\/a>s in house history. When powell came into congress in the there was no large civil 1940s,
Rights Movement<\/a> that was happening outside of congress. That does not come along until the 1950s with
Martin Luther<\/a> king and the southern christian leadership conference. Powell is very much the face of civil rights in the
United States<\/a> for more than a decade. But then once the movement begins happening outside of congress, as one of his biographers has told us, he begins to compete with it a little bit. He is no longer the face of civil rights. Over time, his attendance, his behavior becomes little bit more erratic. The house in the late 1960s refuses to seek him. The
Supreme Court<\/a> rules he is entitled to be seated. Hasby the late 1960s, he run the course of his career and the 1970s. Ouse in artifacts, in this late artifacts from 1967, this which he is speaking over the heads of congress and directly to the people by producing this. Hes a great orator. He was a terrific preacher. If you ever see a film clip of him preaching, it is really quite something. He releases his on jubilee records as another example of the way he is inserting himself into the conversation. We have two artifacts in the collection that are similar in style and usage. But the small differences show up a change in
African American<\/a>s serving in congress over just a 15 year period. From the late 1950s to the mid1970s. The late 1950s object is a a fan. It is called the nations in your congressman. It was frigid in large numbers and was passed out for free. It contains a big picture of the capital and four
African American<\/a> members of congress who served at that time. All in the house. Then, if you jump forward to the mid70s, instead of four members of congress and a big picture of the capital, it has gotten so crowded that they have eliminated that. Language has changed. Instead of the nations negro congressmen, this black lawmakers. There are over a dozen members. It shows a before and after of a particular time in american and congressional history. It covers the 60s and early 70s and the changes that happen for
African American<\/a>s in congress. The big change is the passage of the
Voting Rights<\/a> act of five, extending protections to
African American<\/a> voters in the south allowing them to register. That has some big implications for changing the face of congress over the course of the next decade. In 1965, there were just six
African American<\/a>s serving in congress. All in the house. By the mid1970s, that number has grown to 18 members. Over time, it is an increasingly diverse lot. We get our first
African American<\/a> woman,
Shirley Chisholm<\/a>, in 1969. More specifically to the
Voting Rights<\/a> act which protects voters in districts where they have a hard time registering previously because of local laws and state laws and disenfranchisement. We have the
First Southern<\/a> members elected since reconstruction. Andrew young from georgia and
Barbara Jordan<\/a> from texas. As the numbers of
African American<\/a>s in congress increase, one thing that this allows the core group to do is to create an issues caucus. In 1971, we have the formation of the
Congressional Black Caucus<\/a>. A group of roughly a dozen members at that point. But it is able to exercise some power as a voting block and as an organization that educates members on issues that are important to the black community nationally. The black caucus becomes involved very early on in things like opposing apartheid in south africa,
Building Momentum<\/a> to pass a federal holiday to commemorate
Martin Luther<\/a> kings birthday. It is operating at a legislative level. But inside the institution, it is important to
African American<\/a> members because it is doing things like getting them on to bigger and
Better Committee<\/a>s and into positions where they can influence a broad range of legislation. One of my favorite parts of the house collection is our campaign buttons, especially as they relate to
African American<\/a> lawmakers. We have some for oscar de priest. And moving forward as the number grows,
African American<\/a> members are represented more by the variety and number of buttons. Favorites is for a fascinating member from the coast. He comes to chair a committee of the house. We have a button right here. Clearly this is from a ,
Reelection Campaign<\/a> of his. He had already begun some of the most interesting things he was doing in the ways that he operated within the house. He is elected to congress in the 1970 election. Comes into the house in 1971. Hes a veteran. He had run on an antiwar movement, running against the war in vietnam. He represents berkeley, california, which has a strong antiwar constituency. He wants to get on committees where he can begin to affect military policy. He begins to lobby to get onto the
Armed Services<\/a> committee. He is also a cofounder of the
Congressional Black Caucus<\/a>. He uses the caucus to help move into a position where he can get on
Armed Services<\/a>. One of the stories he told us in an oral history interview was going to the speaker of the house and appealing to speaker albert to put him on
Armed Services<\/a>. This was in effect going around the
Committee Chair<\/a>man who was a southern dixiecrat from louisiana. He went in to make this pitch with his fellow
Congressional Black Caucus<\/a> colleagues. Stokes and clay playing good and bad cop trying to wheedle his way onto the committee. We got all of the members of the c. D. C. On various committees but we could not do anything for ron. That is when we started talking. Mr. Speaker, it is a matter of principle. Nudge bill clay. And if you dont put the brother on the committee, we are going to denounce this as a racist institution and cawley press conference. You have the nice guy saying this is a matter principle. Bill clay saying this is about fairness and justice. A certain point, carl out there got up and said, im going to see that i can get this thing reconsidered. At that moment, i knew i had won. We walk out and i said it is over. I said the fact that the speaker said they were going to reconsider it, it is done. An hour and a half later, i get this phone call. And the first
African American<\/a> appointed to the house
Armed Services<\/a> committee. Incredible thing. He gets on to the committee and finds out from the speaker he has the assignment. That is only half the battle. He shows up on the day that the committee is being organized and he realizes that there is just one seat that has been put out for him at the dais. That seat is going to be have to be shared with another antiwar candidate who had come into congress. The first day we organize, he had just won and was on
Armed Services<\/a>. There is only one chair available. At the committee tables. They did not want another seat there. There was one seat. I looked at how schroeder and introduced myself. I said my name is ron dellums from california. Im honored to be here with you. My grandmother taught me not to let people make fun of you cheaply, if it is ok with you, cool with me, why dont you and i sit in the seat side by side together as if it is the most normal thing in the world. She said, cool. So we sat on this one seat for the entire organizational meeting and we never acted as if even though we want to scream, we said no. We just let our silence and our behavior handle it. And they did not know what to do. Because we did not scream. The next time, two seats were there. We made our point. We moved on. His service on that committee reflects a wider period of reform in the house where the power of
Committee Chair<\/a>s is rolled back and junior members and the diversity of members, getcan americans and women, bigger and
Better Committee<\/a> assignments. Within a congress, he is part of a group that helps remove the original chairman from the committee and put in another chairman. Eventually, by the end of his career, he chairs the
Armed Services<\/a> committee. One of the other changes going on is more
African American<\/a>s are elected to congress in the decades of the 1970s, 80s, 90s. We see for the first time women represented in that group. The very first was
Shirley Chisholm<\/a>. She is elected from a brooklyn district in she comes into the 1968. House in 1969. A show who very much has horse legislative style. Shes talking to the press. She is very much part of a feminist wave of women and congress members. She eventually serves on the house rules committee, which is a powerful committee in the house. Throughout her career is kind of, again, another person who is a symbolic or surrogate representative, not just for
African American<\/a>s, but for women. Following her throughout the next four decades, roughly 40
African American<\/a> women who are elected to congress. That is impressive when you look at that number of relative to the number of
African American<\/a>s who have served in congress from the beginning. It is a much larger percentage than for caucasian women or
Hispanic Women<\/a> or asianamerican women. Again kind of the rising , influence of women within the community and their role in congress. One of the things that is interesting about looking at women in congress and
African American<\/a> women in congress is seeing the role on the
National Stage<\/a>. We have a couple of artifacts that illustrate that. Here is a cover of ebony magazine from 1969. Rightwing
Shirley Chisholm<\/a> first took office right when
Shirley Chisholm<\/a> first took office. She is on the cover and it is a new face in congress. First black woman on capitol hill. She, like many other members of congress, really become
Important National<\/a> figures in the
African American<\/a> press. For example, right around the time the
Congressional Black Caucus<\/a> is created, ebony magazine is able to put a lot of folks on the cover. It really becomes an important caucus, important issuebased group. But each of these people become important in different ways to different communities. She is seen on the cover of jet twice. Does not become congresswoman in 1967. But later on, she does get elected to congress and shows up on the covers of a lot of magazines as the face of not just black women in congress and put our women in congress and younger women in congress. She is the first member of congress to have a baby while she is serving. She shows up on an ebony magazine cover holding her baby. The first time there had been sent a cover of a lawmaker holding a brandnew baby. Shirley chisholm also becomes a
National Figure<\/a> in ways that are shown by these buttons in the collection. They dont say anything about
Shirley Chisholm<\/a> running for congress. They are all about
Shirley Chisholm<\/a> running for president. She is our girl. For president. Represent all americans. You can see the woman symbol around her face places her in with a feminist agenda. That was something that was important to her. On the
National Stage<\/a> in the 1972 election, she was very much putting together a very
Interesting Group<\/a> of people. If you look at film clips of her at the democratic convention, it is interesting to see her season ed pall talking about her delegates. They are very skilled politicians who also become show horse approaches to things. Behindthescenes and in front of the scenes, you see a lot of action going on in the i 1970s. Stand before you today as a candidate for the democratic nomination for the presidency of the
United States<\/a> of america. [applause] when the
Congressional Black Caucus<\/a> is founded in the early 70s, one thing they do that is striking as something that brings them to more prominence than just another caucus in congress is that they really become, they placed themselves in a national context. One example of that is the fantastic record album. It is the first annual benefit concert for the
Congressional Black Caucus<\/a>. It featured such fantastic gang and kool and the gladys knight. It was very successful. It was part of the congressional caucus becoming a real power. There are thousands of objects in the house collection of art and artifacts. These are just a few of them. You can learn a lot more about them on our website which is history. House. Gov. Even more important leave to the website and finding out about stuff is that these are all objects that represent this incredibly long history of this long and important institution. Each and every one of these, text tog that is just something far grander like a portrait or cover of a magazine, each of these is putting a little bit of a human face on the history of the house of representatives. It makes the institution that much more accessible to all of us so we can really get a sense of who were these people. Who are these people that represent us. Who counts in american democracy and what is our role in it. The history of
African American<\/a>s in congress is important for us to preserve and tell. It tells us a story of two different levels. One is the history of our institution and some of the dynamic people who have been a part of it. Some of the unique personalities. And also how our institution evolved as
African American<\/a>s became part of that. And that perspective too, the other story being told is one of the
African American<\/a> experience nationally postcivil war from reconstruction to jim crow to the great migration to increased political participation during the mid20th century civil
Rights Movement<\/a> and the revolution that brought you it is telling important stories two that the house is both affected by and affects. To see more photographs, artwork, and images of
African American<\/a>s in congress, visit history. House. Gov. The website is a collaborative project between the
United States<\/a> of representatives
Historians Office<\/a> and the
House Clerk Office<\/a> of art and archives. For campaign 2016, cspan continues on the road to the white house. Back tol want to get making america strong and great again. I am running for everyone working hard to support their families, everyone who has been knocked down but gets back up. Live coverage of the president ial and vice debates on cspan, the cspan radio app, and cspan. Org. September 26 is the first president of debate from hempstead, new york. On tuesday, october 4,
Vice President<\/a> ial candidates debate at
Longwood University<\/a> in farmville, virginia. On sunday, october 9,
Washington University<\/a> in st. Louis hosts the second president ial debate leading up to the third and final debate between
Hillary Clinton<\/a> and donald trump taking place at the university of nevada las vegas on october 19. Coverage of the debates on cspan. Listen live on the free cspan radio app or watch live or anytime ondemand cspan. Org. Coming up next, the coal used this talks
Nicole Eustace<\/a> talks about her book. She explores how political writings and new british taxes aroused the colonists and propelled the movement forward. The
Brooklyn Historical<\/a> society hosted this one hour and 15 minute event. Good evening. Can you hear me . Better","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"archive.org","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":"800","height":"600","url":"\/\/ia600505.us.archive.org\/15\/items\/CSPAN3_20160919_020000_American_Artifacts\/CSPAN3_20160919_020000_American_Artifacts.thumbs\/CSPAN3_20160919_020000_American_Artifacts_000001.jpg"}},"autauthor":{"@type":"Organization"},"author":{"sameAs":"archive.org","name":"archive.org"}}],"coverageEndTime":"20240625T12:35:10+00:00"}