Joseph Rainey was born a slave on a rice plantation in South Carolina in 1832. His father, Edward, purchased his family’s freedom using money he earned as a barber.

Yes, Lorna Rainey is the great-granddaughter of South Carolina’s Rep. Joseph Rainey, who in 1870 became the first African-American man to serve in the United States House of Representatives. ...

South Carolina man became first Black member of U.S. Congress 150 years ago On December 12, 1870, Joseph Hayne Rainey became the first Black man to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Joseph H Rainey, “Speech Made in Reply to An Attack Upon the Colored State Legislators of South Carolina by Representative Cox of New York”, 1871 Joseph Hayne Rainey, born in Georgetown, Sout ...

COLUMBIA — A new exhibition in the U.S. Capitol commemorates the life and service of South Carolina's Joseph Rainey, the first Black member of the U.S. House who was sworn in to office 150 years ...

A portrait of the first African American member of Congress, Joseph Rainey of South Carolina, was unveiled. Representative Rainey served from 1870-1878. Reverend Coughlin offered the opening ...

Joseph Hayne Rainey (June 21, 1832 – August 1, 1887) was the first African American person to serve in the United States House of Representatives and the second black person to serve in the ...

Rainey was one of the principal writers of the South Carolina Constitution of 1868, he also wrote the first anti-terrorist law and he was the co-writer of the Civil Rights Act of 1875.