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Barack Obama is the first African-American president of the United States. Here’s a look at other firsts for American Blacks in politics and law:
1865 1865 EVENTS J.S. Rock Rev. Henry Highland Garnet Lawyer admitted to prac- Give a speech in the tice before U.S. Supreme U.S. Capitol 1861 Court Civil War begins. 1870 1871 1872 1863 Hiram R. Revels Jefferson F. Long Charlotte Ray President U.S. senator (Miss.) Speak in House of Female lawyer allowed Joseph Rainey Representatives as to practice in Washington, Abraham Lin- U.S. Rep. (S.C.) congressman (Ga.) D.C. coln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing most slaves. 1865 to 1877 Recon- struction. Constitution amended three times to provide equal rights to Black Americans. 1865 Civil War ends. The 13th Amendment 1911 ratified, William Henry Lewis outlawing Appointed to a sub-Cabinet post slavery. 1868 The 14th 1926 Amendment Violette N. Anderson ratified, grant- Female lawyer admitted to practice before U.S. Supreme Court ing citizenship to any person born or natu- 1967 ralized in the Thurgood Marshall U.S. Supreme United States. Court Justice 1870 The 15th Amendment 1944 ratified, guar- Harry S. McAlpin anteeing Black Reporter to attend White House press conference Americans the right to vote. 1896 1955 Plessy vs. E. Frederic Morrow Ferguson. Hold an executive position on a president’s staff Supreme Court decides “sepa- rate educa- tional facilities 1960 1966 1966 1967 1968 Andrew Hatcher Edward Brooke Robert C. Weaver Carl Stokes Shirley Chisholm are inherently Assistant presidential U.S. senator (first since Recon- Cabinet secretary Mayor of a large city Female U.S. unequal.” press secretary struction) (Mass.) (Housing and Urban (Cleveland) representative Development) 1954 Brown vs. Board of 1977 1977 Patricia Harris Clifford Alexander Jr. Education. Female Cabinet secretary Secretary of the Army Supreme Court (HUD*) finds segre- gated public schools uncon- 1989 1989 stitutional. L. Douglas Wilder Colin Powell Elected governor of a Chairman of the Joint 1964 state (Va.) Chiefs of Staff Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination 1992 based on race, Carol Moseley Braun Female U.S. color, religion senator (Ill.) or national origin. 2001 2000 Condoleezza Rice — Karsten Donna Brazile National security advisor Colin Powell Ivey, Manager of a presidential campaign Secretary of State Sun Sentinel
SOURCES: AFRICAN AMERICAN REGISTRY, U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, INFOPLEASE.COM, BLACKPAST.ORG, TNS PHOTOS COURTESY OF: TNS, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS