I was citing the BBC from an article in Late 2005
BBC NEWS | Europe | French Muslims face job discrimination
And It was a french MP and Mayor, Manuel Walls, of Evry, not me,
who made the statements of there only being white MP's from the Mainland.
The statistic on unemployment for college grads, which i assume is the other statement you are referencing is also in that article
.
1869. :smile:
three of them at once
James Lewis, John Willis Menard, and Pinckney B.S. Pinchback — all of Louisiana
(but they were never seated)
in 1870 though, James Rainey of South Carolina was elected and seated in the House.
Other Blacks who were elected to the House and seated often had very rocky tenures. Only a few did not have to face hostile, organized opposition within Congress. A few examples are listed below.
• Robert C. DeLarge, South Carolina, elected in 1870
His election was challenged from the beginning and the challenge resulted in him serving twenty-two months out of twenty-four. The seat was declared vacant for the final two months.
• Josiah Thomas Walls, Florida, elected in 1870
Wells was the only Black representative unseated twice by opponents challenging his elections.
• Jefferson Franklin Long, Georgia, elected in 1871
Served an abbreviated term in 1871 (the election he won was held to fill an abbreviated term). White congressional opposition and intimidation of Black voters led to him not being reelected.
• Robert Brown Elliott, South Carolina, elected in 1871
An attorney before he entered politics, Elliott served two consecutive terms. He was also able to read, German, Spanish, French, and Latin.
• Joseph H. Rainey, South Carolina, elected in 1871
Served two consecutive terms, but as usual, the environment in Congress, especially from White southern representatives, was very hostile.
• Alonzo J. Ransier, Georgia, elected in 1872
Succeeded Robert C. DeLarge. He was Lt. Governor before he won DeLarge's seat.
• James T. Rapier, Alabama, elected in 1873
He served two consecutive terms and lost in 1875 when many ballot boxes were stolen and destroyed and replaced with others containing stuffed or illegally cast ballots. There was also armed intimidation of Black voters by Whites.
• John Mercer Langston, Virginia, elected in 1888
The only Black person ever elected to Congress from Virginia, Mercer was denied his seat for almost two years.
• Thomas E. Miller, South Carolina, elected in 1889
He served one term and afterwards was named president of the State Colored College at Orangeburg, South Carolina.
During Reconstruction, southern Whites suddenly found themselves looking at former slaves not only eyeball to eyeball, but as equals before the law and in their (the freed slaves) ability to obtain elected office. Many Whites never ceased trying to "turn back the clock" so to speak.
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