Oscar De Priest Elected First Black Congressman Outside the South

In 1928, Oscar De Priest of Chicago was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first African American elected to Congress in the 20th century and the first ever from outside the South. During his three terms he was the only Black member of Congress, organized fundraisers for the NAACP, introduced resolutions investigating Capitol Hill segregation, and fought to allow Black preachers to deliver the House's opening prayer.