Capitol men : the epic story of Reconstruction through the lives of the first Black congressmen / Philip Dray.

Author/creator Dray, Philip
Format Book
Publication InfoBoston : Houghton Mifflin Co., 2008.
Descriptionxiii, 463 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Subjects
United States. Congress. House--Biography.
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
African American legislators--Biography.
Social justice--United States. --History. --19th century.
United States--Race relations. --Political aspects. --History. --19th century.
Southern States--Race relations. --Political aspects. --History. --19th century.
United States--Politics and government. --1865-1900.
Southern States--Politics and government. --1865-1950.

Contents Boat thief [Robert Smalls] -- A new kind of nation -- Daddy Cain -- "The whirligig of time" -- Kukluxery -- Pinch -- The Colfax Massacre -- Capstone of the reconstructed Republic -- Divided time -- The eternal fitness of things -- Black Thursday -- A dual house -- Exodusting -- A rope of sand -- "The negroes' farewell".
Abstract Pulitzer Prize finalist Philip Dray shines a light on a little known group of men: the nation's first black members of Congress. These men played a critical role in pushing for much-needed reforms in the wake of a traumatic civil war, including public education for all children, equal rights, and protection from Klan violence. But they have been either neglected or maligned by most historians--their "glorious failure" chalked up to corruption and "ill-preparedness."--From publisher description.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references (p. [421]-437) and index.
LCCN 2008011292
ISBN9780618563708
ISBN0618563709