Hiram R. Revels was a Black American who worked as a college administrator, a politician and a minister in the AME (African Methodist Episcopal Church). He was the first African-American who served as a powerful Republican in the U.S. Congress and got elected as a Senator to the United States Senate. He represented Mississippi in 1870-1871 which was the country’s Reconstruction Era.

Born on the 27^th of September 1827, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Revels was a person who pursued dedication and strong will in his whole life. It was a time of intense slavery where Blacks were nothing but to serve the major white community of the country. Luckily, Revel was born in a free family where he and his brother both worked as barbers in the early livelihood. It was his brother who ran the barber shop subsequently, but after his sudden death, Revels took over the business and continued his brother’s hard work. He later left North Carolina to learn at seminaries in Ohio and Indiana. In 1845, he got the opportunity to be admitted as a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). He worked there as a traveling preacher of the Church.

Hiram Revels was the one who organized two different black regiments of the Union Army while participating in the Civil War. He then settled in Natchez, Mississippi with his loving wife and daughter after fighting for the Union at the great Battle of Vicksburg. He continued being a clergy and then became the respected member of his community. Revels was known for his booming skills and keen intelligence. It was the support of his community that garnered him to win the position of alderman in the year 1868. Later, he served in the Senate of Mississippi State.

In 1870, Revels got the opportunity to refill a vacant Senate seat of the United States, but unfortunately, he had to go through a very tough time because he didn’t meet the nine-year citizenship requirements. Ultimately, his Republican Allies passed him because of his mixed-race, and he became the first African-American Senator of the United States.  Hiram Revels worked hard as a Senator and tried to sustain his audacity and true values throughout his political tenure.

Revels resigned after one year from the Senate to work as the President of Agriculture and Mechanical College in Claiborne Country, Mississippi where he also worked as a Philosophy teacher. His life ended on January 16, 1901, while continue preaching publically and attending an important meeting of the Methodist ministers in Aberdeen, Mississippi.

Source Articles:

• https://www.biography.com/people/hiram-r-revels-9456129
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiram_Rhodes_Revels