[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 101 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1258]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNITION OF AMERICA'S FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN ELECTED OFFICIAL

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                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 18, 2008

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and pay 
special tribute to John Mercer Langston, America's first African-
American Congressman from Virginia, a prominent abolitionist, and 
founder of Howard University's law school.
  While the world is watching America's historic presidential election, 
with Barack Obama as the first African-American Democratic nominee, it 
is necessary to recognize the trailblazers that have come before him 
and the barriers that they have brought down.
  John Mercer Langston was born in a small county, Louisa, Virginia, in 
1829 to a wealthy white plantation owner and an emancipated slave of 
Indian and Black ancestry. During slavery Langston was able to overcome 
several racial obstacles. He moved to Ohio when he was young where he 
attended Oberlin College and obtained a bachelor's and master's degree. 
He tried to pursue a law degree but racism stopped him from taking the 
usual route of getting a law degree. He was admitted to Ohio's bar 
after studying law under attorney and Representative Philemon Bliss. 
Similar to Obama, Langston was a strong leader and organizer. Langston 
organize antislavery societies at a local and state level. He recruited 
African-American men to fight in the Union Army during the Civil War. 
He was a law scholar, a dean and founder of Howard University's Law 
School. He was elected in 1888 and served as a shining example to those 
that came after him.
  Barack Obama's historic achievement would not have been possible if 
it was not for people like John Mercer Langston who triumphed over 
racial hurdles. It is important to acknowledge that it has taken about 
180 years to finally see an African-American so close to the 
Presidency. This is all possible because of the collective bravery and 
sacrifices of so many before him, and especially the catalyst of John 
Mercer Langston's, from Louisa County, great accomplishments.

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