About Hiram Revels

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About Hiram Revels

Introduction

The United States Congress welcomed Hiram Rhodes Revels as the first free Negro to hold a senatorial seat. Before 1870, people recognized Senator Rhodes because of his reasonable political beliefs, and persuasive techniques. Revels had perfected his skills for years as a preacher in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). His popularity soared after he filled a vacant seat in Senate. Before he got this position, Republican Senator Charles Sumner had declared his support for the admission of black people equality in the house because he believed all American citizens were equal.

Hiram’s Early Life and Education

            Hiram Rhodes Revels was from Fayetteville, North Carolina. His was born in a free family, to a father who practiced tutelage, and a mother who had a European ancestry (Williams, 1999). He postulated that his lineages were “free” and came from a different hereditary drawn from African and Croatan Indian origin (Historical, Arts & Archives: U.S House of Representatives, n.d). While growing up, because of racial prejudice children of color were denied access to education facilities; as a result, an empowered black woman tutored Senator Rhodes. After the teaching, he started a business but felt he needed to further his studies and joined Beech Grove Quaker Seminary.

His stay in the north was productive since he got ordained in the AME Church.  Revels began his pastoral work in Richmond, Indiana, (Historical, Arts & Archives: U.S House of Representatives, n.d), where he obtained a position as a leader in the AME Indian Conference between 1849 and 1850 (Williams, 1999). According to Thompson (1994), during his early years with the church, the senator met his wife Pheobe, and together they sired six daughters.  He continued with his ministerial work through conducting spiritual responsibilities and tutored men of color in different states such as Tennessee, Kentucky, and so on. In 1853, despite the law in Missouri prohibiting free people from inhabiting the land for the fear they would provoke an uprising he traveled to St. Louis. He later revealed that he restricted his movements to obey the government decree.

Political Career and Achievements

            In 1865, Revels joined the Methodist Episcopal Church after he left AME, and run the ministry in churches in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1866, after taking up an evangelical assignment, he relocated together with his family to Natchez, Mississippi. This position of influence elevated his status among the different communities in the region. He mobilized his masses to support the common cause and fought racism through establishing schools that predominantly admitted the minorities. Despite being a new individual in the community, in 1878 he was elected as...