Early Black Members of the US Congress

Born a slave in North Carolina in 1825, the “fair” education Benjamin Turner¹ received was more than most slaves. Turner, who had helped manage his owner’s hotel and stable, had enough of his own money to purchase property in Selma, Alabama around the time the Civil War started. When the town was captured during the war, much of the city was burned leaving Turner with $8,000 in damages as the result. Turner’s elected positions included: tax collector (1869), councilman for Selma (1869), and US Congress (1871-1873). After his Congressional term, Turner² returned to business pursuits and ran a farm until his death in 1894.

Josiah Walls³ was born into slavery in Virginia in 1842. He was a private servant to a Confederate soldier until he was emancipated by Union soldiers in 1862. Walls received some education before he decided to serve with the Union Army from 1863-1865. After his wartime service, he lived in Florida and used his earnings from working as a teacher to buy a farm. His elected positions included: state senator (1869-1872, 1876-1879) and US Congress (1871-January 1873; March 1873-1875 & 1875-1876). Walls⁴ returned to his farm after his political career ended and later ran the farm for Florida Normal College (now Florida A&M) until his death in 1905.

 Jefferson Long⁵, born a slave in Georgia in 1836, was self-educated and ran his own successful tailoring business. Long worked to promote literacy/education opportunities for blacks in Georgia after the Civil War and was known as a great orator. He became the second black American elected to the House of Representatives, and though he only served for 3 months (January-March 1871) Long was the first black representative to speak on the House floor. Long⁶ went back to his tailoring shop after his time in Congress and opened other businesses before his death in 1901.

It’s important for all of us to learn more about other black history heroes⁷ to keep alive the memory of these American heroes!

¹ “Turner, Benjamin Sterling,” United States House of Representatives.
² “Turner, Benjamin Sterling,” Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
³ “Walls, Josiah Thomas,” United States House of Representatives.
⁴ “Walls, Josiah Thomas,” Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
⁵ “Long, Jefferson Franklin,” United States House of Representatives.
⁶ “Long, Jefferson Franklin,” Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
⁷ “Black History Resources,” WallBuilders.