Oscar Stanton De Priest
Oscar Stanton De Priest was an American Republican politician and civil rights advocate. He served as a U.S. Representative from the state of Illinois. During his three terms, he was the only African American serving in Congress.
Oscar Stanton De Priest | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1929 – January 3, 1935 | |
| Preceded by | Martin B. Madden |
| Succeeded by | Arthur W. Mitchell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 9, 1871 Florence, Alabama |
| Died | May 12, 1951 (aged 80) Chicago, Illinois |
| Resting place | Graceland Cemetery, Uptown, Chicago |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Jessie De Priest |
| Children | Laurence W. De Priest Oscar Stanton De Priest, Jr. |
De Priest proposed a law barring discrimination in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was program of the New Deal to employ people across the country in building infrastructure. His proposal was made a law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
In 1929, De Priest made national news. First Lady Lou Hoover invited his wife, Jessie, to a traditional tea for congressional wives at the White House.[1][2] In reaction several newspapers published a racist poem called Niggers in the White House. The poem was first published when Booker T. Washington dined with President Theodore Roosevelt.
Oscar Stanton De Priest Media
Oscar De Priest, May 13, 1922.
De Priest's grave at Graceland Cemetery
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References
- ↑ Day, Davis S. (Winter 1980). "Herbert Hoover and Racial Politics: The De Priest Incident". Journal of Negro History. Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Inc. 65 (1): 6–17. doi:10.2307/3031544. JSTOR 3031544. S2CID 149611666.
- ↑ "'A Tempest In a Teapot'". The White House Historical Association. Retrieved 30 September 2016.