african american legislators

John Lewis is one of the most courageous leaders of the civil rights movement. In 1986, Lewis won a seat in US Congress, which he continues to occupy. Follow Lewis's journey to Washington, DC, where he fights for equality.

The civil rights movement of the 1960s brought John Lewis out of anonymity. As one of the "Big Six" leaders of the civil rights movement, he participated in the March on Washington as the youngest speaker of the event. Even after the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act were passed, Lewis continued to fight for civil rights. Readers will learn that today he represents Georgia in the House of Representatives and has advocated for healthcare reform, improvements to education, and reducing poverty. This biography shows that Lewis serves as a role model for young people throughout the country by fighting equal rights for all.

Few people had even heard of Barack Obama before 2004, but one powerful speech in Boston changed all that for the Illinois senator.

Presents the true story of former slave and United States Congressman Robert Smalls. In 1862, twenty-three-year-old Robert Smalls captured a heavily-armed Confederate steamer and delivered it to Union soldiers. Smalls was granted his freedom for this act, and through his bravery in numerous naval campaigns as a civilian he became the first black captain of an army ship, and eventually a United States Congressman.

A graphic novel account of some pivotal moments in the Civil Rights Movement.

"A staunch proponent of breaking down racial and gender barriers, Shirley Chisholm had the esteemed privilege of being a pioneer in many aspects of her life. She was the first African American woman elected to the New York State legislature and, later, the United States House of Representatives. She also made a run for the Democratic Party nomination for president in 1972. Focusing on Chisholm's lifelong advocacy for fair treatment, access to education, and equal pay for all American minority groups, this book explores the life of a remarkable woman in the context of twentieth century urban America and the tremendous social upheaval that occurred after World War II. About the Lives of American Women series: Selected and edited by renowned women's historian Carol Berkin, these brief biographies are designed for use in undergraduate courses. Rather than a comprehensive approach, each biography focuses instead on a particular aspect of a women's life that is emblematic of her time, or which made her a pivotal figure in the era. The emphasis is on a "good read," featuring accessible writing and compelling narratives, without sacrificing sound scholarship and academic integrity. Primary sources at the end of each biography reveal the subject's perspective in her own words. Study questions and an annotated bibliography support the student reader. "--.

Allen West discusses his life, focusing on his time in the military and U.S. Congress.

"Give[s] readers a...glimpse into the boyhood of Civil Rights leader John Lewis. John wants to be a preacher when he grows up--a leader whose words stir hearts to change, minds to think, and bodies to take action. But why wait? When John is put in charge of the family farm's flock of chickens, he discovers that they make a wonderful congregation! So he preaches to his flock, and they listen, content under his watchful care, riveted by the rhythm of his voice. Includes an author's note about John Lewis, who grew up to be a member of the Freedom Riders, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and demonstrator on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, and is now a Georgia congressman"--Provided by publisher.

After the success of the Nashville sit-in campaign, John Lewis is more committed than ever to changing the world through nonviolence -- but as he and his fellow Freedom Riders board a bus into the vicious heart of the deep south, they will be tested like never before.