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Interesting US History
A Website Devoted to Interesting Events in U.S. History

 

 
 

 

ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY

February 25, 1870

Hiram Rhodes Revels Becomes the First
African American in the United States Senate

On this day in 1870, Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African American Senator. Revels was a Senator from Mississippi in 1870 and 1871 during the Reconstruction period after the American Civil War.

To this day, Revels is one of only six African American ever to have served in the United States Senate. He is listed by Molefi Kete Asante as one of 100 greatest African American ever.