Blazing the Trail: African-American Political Firsts

Loretta Lynch, Edward Brooke, Shirley Chisholm and others.

Paving the Way - Since 1836, accomplished African-Americans have blazed a trail of political firsts. BET.com takes a look at their amazing accomplishments. — Joyce Jones   Loretta Lynch became the first African-American woman to serve as U.S. attorney general when she was confirmed by the Senate on April 23, 2015. She was sworn in on April 27. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Alexander Twilight - Alexander Twilight was the first African-American to be elected to public office when he won a seat on the Vermont state legislature in 1836. A graduate of Middlebury College, he also is believed to be the first Black person to graduate from an American college or university. (Photo: Courtesy Wikicommons)
John Willis Menard - John Willis Menard of Louisiana was the first African-American to be elected to the U.S. Congress. But after winning the seat in 1868, his election was contested by Rep. James A. Garfield, who claimed it was “too early to admit a Negro” to the chamber. (Photo: Courtesy Wikicommons)Joseph Rainey - Joseph Rainey, a Republican, was the first African-American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing South Carolina from 1870 to 1879.(Photo: Courtesy Wikicommons)

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Paving the Way - Since 1836, accomplished African-Americans have blazed a trail of political firsts. BET.com takes a look at their amazing accomplishments. — Joyce Jones   Loretta Lynch became the first African-American woman to serve as U.S. attorney general when she was confirmed by the Senate on April 23, 2015. She was sworn in on April 27. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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