Lesson Plans: Black Americans in Congress
Fast Facts
Review a brief synopsis of Black Americans who have served in Congress. Joseph Rainey, William Dawson, and Gus Hawkins are a few of the African-American Members who made history in the House.
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![Joseph Rainey of South Carolina was the first African-American Representative to serve in Congress.](https://webharvest.gov/congress117th/20220920030448im_/https://historycms2.house.gov/assets/32064.jpeg?wd=190)
About this object Joseph Rainey of South Carolina was the first African-American Representative to serve in Congress.
Lesson Plans
Lesson Plan One: “The Fifteenth Amendment in Flesh and Blood,” The Symbolic Generation of Black Americans in Congress, 1870–1887 - Lesson Plan (PDF) / Essay
Lesson Plan Two: “‘The Negroes’ Temporary Farewell,” Jim Crow and the Exclusion of African Americans from Congress, 1887–1929 - Lesson Plan (PDF) / Essay
Lesson Plan Three: Keeping the Faith: African Americans Return to Congress, 1929–1970 - Lesson Plan (PDF)/Essay
Lesson Plan Four: Permanent Interests: The Expansion, Organization, and Rising Influence of African Americans in Congress, 1971–2007 - Lesson Plan (PDF) / Essay
Lesson Plan Five: Objects in Time - Lesson Plan (PDF) / House Collections Search
Lesson Plan Six: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - Lesson Plan (PDF)
Lesson Plan Seven: Black Americans in Congress Speak Their Mind - Lesson Plan (PDF) / Quotations (PDF)