George Henry White: Last Black Congressman of the Era 1897-1901

George Henry White of North Carolina, elected in 1896 and re-elected in 1898 despite the white supremacist campaign around him, was the only Black member of Congress from 1897 to 1901. In 1900 he introduced the first federal anti-lynching bill in Congress, which was killed in committee. In his farewell speech in January 1901 he warned: 'This is perhaps the Negroes' temporary farewell to the American Congress.' No Black congressman would serve again for 28 years.