The Almost Forgotten: America's First Black American Congressmen

The first Black American congressmen highlighted in this book have gone unnamed, unnoticed, and unrecognized due to the short-lived nature of the Reconstruction Era. For a moment after the civil war, Black political power was displayed by the significant voting efforts of African American men through the nominations and elections of Black men to elected office and leadership roles.

Historian, educator, theologian, and political practitioner Darryl Brackeen Jr pens his debut book, "The Almost Forgotten: America's First Black American Congressmen." This series of biographies of formerly enslaved men and free Black Americans who overcame one of the worst periods in American history to become highly respected educators, religious leaders, and business owners during the Reconstruction era. These individuals rose up to get involved in building political efforts for the Black community, despite the violent opposition of the Klu Klux Klan and former Confederate leaders. While this moment in American history is short-lived for Black Americans and many of the individuals in this book are the leaders to run for the United States Congress. Most were "almost forgotten" because many of them ended up in poverty or living in obscurity. Many of their stories have gone untold and under-recognized for generations, and now Brackeen will offer an opportunity to reintroduce some of the brave Black political leaders in American history.