Subjects –
African Americans in Congress
Representative John Roy Lynch of Mississippi
September 10, 1847
Born into slavery on September 10, 1847, and emancipated at the end of the Civil War, John Roy Lynch cut his political teeth by giving speeches supporting the new Mississippi constitution.
The Committee on Education and Labor
March 21, 1867
On this day the House established the Committee on Education and Labor, with Representative John Baker of Illinois serving as its first chairman.
A historic change in the Oath of Office
April 15, 1929
On this date, Speaker Nicholas Longworth of Ohio changed the tradition of swearing in new Members by state delegations to swearing in all Members simultaneously.
Representative Barbara Jordan of Texas
February 21, 1936
Congresswoman Barbara Jordan of Texas was born on this date. After service as the first black woman in the Texas state senate, Jordan set her sights on a Houston-based U.S. House seat in 1972.
The Civil Rights Act of 1957
June 18, 1957
On this date, the House of Representatives passed the initial version of what eventually became the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
July 02, 1964
On this date, the House of Representatives passed the final version of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The Comprehensive Apartheid Act
September 29, 1986
On this date, a strong bipartisan coalition in the House overrode President Ronald Reagan’s veto of the Comprehensive Apartheid Act by a vote of 313 to 83.