Senate Resolution 52

A RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING AND CELEBRATING THE 155TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HONORABLE HIRAM RHODES REVELS' MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ELECTED TO, SWORN IN, AND SEATED IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE, ELECTION TO THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE, NINETEENTH MISSISSIPPI SECRETARY OF STATE, AND FIRST PRESIDENT OF ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY 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, Mississippian and the first African American to serve in the United States Senate from February 1870 to March 1871; and

WHEREAS, he 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, he 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, Revel's natural leadership qualities became more apparent when he organized two black regiments for the Union Army during the onset of the Civil War and served as Chaplain during the siege and ensuing Battle of Vicksburg in 1863; and

WHEREAS, after the war, he continued his career in the clergy and settled in Natchez in 1866 with his wife and daughters, and became an alderman for the City of Natchez in 1868, gaining a reputation as a respected member of the community due to his keen intellect and eloquent oratorical skills; and

WHEREAS, in 1869 he won a seat in the Mississippi State Senate as a Republican representing Adams County and was known to be very influential with his fellow legislators, especially after he gave a powerful prayer during the opening session of the Senate on January 11, 1870; and

WHEREAS, impressed by Hiram's great natural ability and superior attainments, Republicans in the Mississippi Legislature overwhelmingly voted 81 to 15 to elect Hiram Revels to the state's United States Senate to fill the remainder of the term of former United States Senator Albert Gallatin Brown; and

WHEREAS, despite many attempts over three days to block his installment, the U.S. Senate 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 March 3, 1871, Revels achieved another first 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, he served a temporary appointment as the first African American and 19th Secretary of State of Mississippi in 1873; and

WHEREAS, having traveled an uncommon path to reach the pinnacle of sustained success that garnered him a reputation of excellence and historic prominence, Senator Revels' rise ushered in a new era of political activism for African American legislators; and

WHEREAS, his uncanny skill and ability to master the mechanics of brokering relationships with both his political allies and antagonists is a blueprint used by those who desire to serve their constituency during modern political times; and

WHEREAS, Senator Hiram Rhodes Revels' service on Capitol Hill in 1870 still ranks among the greatest landmarks 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' 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 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, we pay homage to an individual of Senator Revels' caliber, who served as a trailblazing pioneer, and whose historic contributions merit honor and respect:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commemorate and 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, election to the Mississippi State Senate, nineteenth Mississippi Secretary of State, and first President of Alcorn State University, and acknowledge the historical legacy of his lifetime of accomplishments and service to the great State of Mississippi and the entire nation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the descendants of Hiram Rhodes Revels, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.