Bill > HR56

This resolution celebrates the life and remarkable achievements of Hiram Rhodes Revels, the first African American elected to the United States Senate, on the 155th anniversary of his groundbreaking election in 1870. Born a free man in North Carolina in 1827, Revels was a Baptist preacher, barber, and educator who organized black regiments for the Union Army during the Civil War and served as a chaplain during the Siege of Vicksburg. After the war, he became an alderman in Natchez, Mississippi, and was elected to the Mississippi State Senate as a Republican in 1869. In 1870, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, overcoming significant racial barriers, and was sworn in on February 25, 1870, after a vote of 48 to 8. Following his Senate term, Revels became the first president of Alcorn University, the first land-grant institution for African Americans, and briefly served as Mississippi's Secretary of State. The resolution highlights Revels' diplomatic skills, eloquence, and pioneering role in breaking racial barriers in American politics, acknowledging his significant contributions to Mississippi and the nation. It honors his legacy as a trailblazing politician, educator, and religious leader who paved the way for future African American legislators.

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HR/HR0056.xml