Not the biggest news today, but still worth noting: in the 119th Congress, Alabama will have two Black U.S. representatives serving together for the first time in history. This didn't happen during Reconstruction. It took nearly 60 years after the Voting Rights Act, and lengthy litigation. - ThreadSky

brianlyman.bsky.social • 151 days ago

Not the biggest news today, but still worth noting: in the 119th Congress, Alabama will have two Black U.S. representatives serving together for the first time in history.

This didn't happen during Reconstruction. It took nearly 60 years after the Voting Rights Act, and lengthy litigation.

Comments

brosephus.bsky.social•151 days ago

This also didn't happen via the free will of Alabama residents. The state had to be forced to do right by its residents through court decree. One of the only ways that Black America has been able to exercise most any right protected by the Constitution has been through court decisions.

ashleygirl.bsky.social•148 days ago

Covering Alabama… must be tough.

brianlyman.bsky.social•151 days ago

Alabama sent three Black men to the U.S. House in the 1870s. All were very impressive in their own rights, and the fight over Alabama's congressional borders gave me a chance in 2023 to engage in the ultimate what-if: What if Black voting rights had been protected from 1870 on?

asadiablo.me•151 days ago

And the US Senate gets it's first black female Senator, Angela Alsobrooks.

spelmanite88.bsky.social•150 days ago

Carol Mosley Braun was the first Black woman Senator. Also, Lisa Rochester was sworn in as senator as well. This is the first time we’ve had 2 Black women in the senate at the same time.

asadiablo.me•150 days ago

I stand corrected. Even my own, usually very good, local news failed me. Thank you for this critical information.

spelmanite88.bsky.social•150 days ago

You’re welcome. Kamala Harris was the 2nd Black woman (and 1st woman of South Asian descent) to be elected to the senate. Alsobrook and Rochester and 3rd and 4th Black woman elected to the Senate!

tripp434.bsky.social•151 days ago

Huzzah!

rockymtncivil.bsky.social•150 days ago

Now...

A good start. If the Black people in the southern states would come together, get registered, win some offices and unite, the white southern racists would stop stomping on their rights.