MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Butler-Washington, Holloway (76th), Faulkner, Gibbs (36th), Harness, Jackson (45th), Thompson
A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE HONORABLE HIRAM RHODES REVELS OF MISSISSIPPI ON THE OCCASION OF THE 155TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS MONUMENTAL ELECTION TO THE U.S. SENATE AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO SERVE IN CONGRESS AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE HISTORICAL LEGACY OF HIS LIFETIME OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SERVICE TO THE GREAT STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND THE ENTIRE NATION.
WHEREAS, this year marks the 155th anniversary of the election of the Honorable Hiram Rhodes Revels, a 19th century Mississippian who was the first African American in the country elected to the United States Senate and who served in the upper house of Congress from February 1870 to March 1871; and
WHEREAS, Revels was born a free man on September 27, 1827, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the son of a Baptist preacher; and
WHEREAS, early in his career, Revels worked as a skilled barber until he was moved to teach the masses the great word of the Lord, which motivated him to attend seminary and become a prominent pastor ordained within the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.); and
WHEREAS, Revels's natural leadership qualities became more apparent when he bravely organized two black regiments for the Union Army during the onset of the Civil War and courageously served as Chaplain during the Battle of Vicksburg and subsequent 47-day Siege of Vicksburg in 1863; and
WHEREAS, after the war, Revels faithfully continued his career in the clergy and settled in Natchez in 1866 with his wife and daughters, and upon becoming an alderman for the City of Natchez in 1868, Revels gained a reputation as a respected member of the community due to his keen intellect and eloquent oratorical skills; and
WHEREAS, in 1869, Revels won a seat in the Mississippi State Senate as a Republican representing Adams County, and he was soon known to be very influential with his fellow legislators, especially after giving a powerful prayer during the opening session of the Senate on January 11, 1870; and
WHEREAS, impressed by his great natural ability and superior attainments, Republicans in the Mississippi Legislature overwhelmingly voted 81 to 15 to elect Hiram Revels the state's United States Senator to fill the remainder of the term of former Senator Albert Gallatin Brown; and
WHEREAS, despite many attempts over three days to block his installment, the U.S. Senate ultimately voted 48 to 8 to seat him, and Revels was sworn into office on February 25, 1870, breaking the glass ceiling for African Americans in the United States Congress; and
WHEREAS, after his Senate term ended on March 3, 1871, Revels achieved yet more firsts when he became the first president of Alcorn University (now Alcorn State University) in Claiborne County, Mississippi, the first land-grant institution for African Americans in the nation; and
WHEREAS, during a leave of absence from his university duties in 1873, Revels served a temporary appointment as the first African American and 19th Secretary of State of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, having traveled an uncommon path to reach the pinnacle of sustained success that has garnered him a reputation of excellence and historic prominence, Senator Revels's rise ushered in a new era of political activism for African-American legislators; and
WHEREAS, Hiram Revels's uncanny skill and ability to master the mechanics of brokering relationships with both his political allies and antagonists is a blueprint continued to be used today by those desiring to serve their constituencies in modern political times; and
WHEREAS, Senator Hiram Rhodes Revels's service on Capitol Hill in 1870 still ranks among the greatest moments in American political history, even though politics and Capitol Hill have undergone extensive changes during the past 155 years; and
WHEREAS, recognized for his years of service in the governmental arena, Senator Revels's successes are undoubtedly attributable to his immense talent and consummate professionalism, which are further highlighted by the praise he received from the press for his well-crafted speeches and diplomatic approach to a tense congressional environment; and
WHEREAS, Revels retired from Alcorn A&M College and his political life in 1882, but he faithfully continued his religious works by ministering at local A.M.E. churches and teaching Theology at Shaw University (now Rust College) in Holly Springs until his death on January 16, 1901; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to pay homage to Mississippians who are the caliber of Senator Hiram Revels, who served as a trailblazing pioneer and whose remarkable contributions to the State of Mississippi and the entire country merit honor and respect:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby celebrate the life and legacy of the Honorable Hiram Rhodes Revels on the occasion of the 155th anniversary of his monumental 1870 election to the United States Senate as the first African American to serve in Congress, and acknowledge the historical legacy of his accomplishments and service to the great State of Mississippi and the entire nation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the descendants of Hiram Rhodes Revels and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.