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Alan Fram/Associated Press

  • Joseph H. Rainey's great-granddaughter Lorna Rainey addresses reporters during a news conference to unveil the Joseph H. Rainey Room at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022. Joseph H. Rainey was born into slavery in 1832. He was elected to Congress representing South Carolina and sworn into office in 1870, becoming the first Black member of the House. From left, House Minority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise, R.La., Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, Lorna Rainey, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. (Greg Nash/Pool via AP)
    SC News
    First Black congressman honored amid calls for justice
    Alan Fram/Associated Press
    A modest room in the Capitol has been named after the first Black member of the House. He was Rep. Joseph H. Rainey, who was born into slavery in 1832 and served as a Reconstruction-era member of Congress. No. 3 House Democratic leader James Clyburn, Rainey's great-granddaughter Lorna Rainey and others used the event to talk about continuing efforts for social justice and voting rights. Clyburn, like Rainey, is from South Carolina. Clyburn lamented that there was 95 years between Reconstruction and when he was elected as South Carolina's next Black congressman.