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The story of how africanamericans come to congress in the 19th century is not one a lot of people are familiar with. We actually have 22 africanamericans serve between 1870 and 1901. 20 in the house. 2 in the senate. Largely a house story. And it has to do with the role of congress during the civil war, and in the decade after. During the civil war there were a group of radicals in congress, radicals, because they believed in the equality of africanamericans, and wanted to create a society in the south after the war that was a multiracial society. These were radicals in the house, like thaddeu...

The house collection that have to do with that and a lot of history to cover. And the last African American to be elected in the 19th century leaves in 1901, george white of North Carolina. Then its a long time before another African American comes into the house, and that is oscar from illinois. We have a couple of very rare artifacts from oscar de priest from the 19 twenties and thirties. Before i launch into this because i love him so much. Matt, tell us a little bit about Oscar Depriest and how he got into congress. There is a period of almost three decades after George Henry White leaves ...