Hiram Rhodes Revels: A Landmark Moment in U.S. Senate History
In honor of Black History Month, we reflect on a pivotal moment in American history—the swearing-in of Hiram Rhodes Revels, the first African American to serve in the U.S. Senate. On February 25, 1870, a historic event unfolded as Revels took his oath of office, marking the beginning of a new era in Congress. The Senate galleries erupted in applause as Revels, a Republican from Mississippi, became the first Black man to serve in the Senate, just 22 days after the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment, which prohibited voting discrimination based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Born on September 27, 1827, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Hiram Revels was raised as a free man, the son of a Baptist preacher. He was educated by a free African American woman in his youth, and his academic journey took him north to Indiana and Ohio, where he studied at seminary schools. In 1845, Revels was ordained as a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a role that would lead him to various states, where he became a voice for both free and enslaved African Americans. He assisted fugitive slaves and preached for the abolition of slavery long before the Civil War.
When the Civil War erupted, Revels became actively involved in supporting the Union cause. He formed African American regiments in Maryland, served as a Union army chaplain in Mississippi, and established schools for freed slaves in Missouri. His post-war activities in the South led to his election as an alderman in Natchez, Mississippi, and later to the Mississippi State Senate in 1869, where he became one of 35 African Americans elected to the state legislature.
As Mississippi sought readmission to the Union, Revels was among the prominent figures advocating for racial justice. His election to the U.S. Senate in 1870, however, was not without controversy. Three senators challenged his eligibility, citing the Dred Scott decision and questioning whether Revels had been a U.S. citizen for the required nine years. Despite these challenges, Revels’ supporters, including civil rights leader Charles Sumner, rallied in his defense, and the Senate voted overwhelmingly to admit him.
Revels’ time in the Senate, although brief, was marked by his unwavering commitment to advocating for African American civil rights and education. In his maiden speech, he spoke passionately against an amendment in the Georgia readmission bill that sought to block Black citizens from holding state office. Revels emphasized his role as a representative of African Americans nationwide, advocating for equality and justice.
Beyond his legislative duties, Revels was a champion of education and racial equality. He fought against racial segregation and discrimination, and his efforts laid the groundwork for future generations of African American leaders in Congress. Though his Senate term ended in 1871, Revels continued his work for civil rights and education, later serving as the president of Alcorn College in Mississippi, further cementing his legacy as a trailblazer in the Reconstruction Era.
The legacy of Hiram Revels, along with other African American leaders of the time, opened doors for future generations of Black Americans in politics. Despite the ongoing struggles for racial equality, Revels’ pioneering service in the Senate stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of African Americans in the face of adversity. His story serves as an enduring symbol of progress in the fight for equal rights and representation in American government.
