"The Honoured Representative of Four Millions of Colored People"
Historian Douglas R. Egerton describes the life and political career of Mississippi politician Blanche K. Bruce, the first African American to serve a full six-year term in the United States Senate.
![Portrait of man seated in suit.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/REC_04a_Blanche_Bruce.jpg?h=b75a1373&itok=WIl27GuK)
The Honoured Representative of Four Millions of Colored People (en español)
In Spanish, historian Douglas R. Egerton describes the life and political career of Mississippi politician Blanche K. Bruce, the first African American to serve a full six-year term in the United States Senate.
![Portrait of man seated in suit.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/REC_04a_Blanche_Bruce.jpg?h=b75a1373&itok=WIl27GuK)
The Importance of Getting History Right
Historian James Grossman describes the importance of establishing an accurate history of Reconstruction.
![A drawing of the first Black 7 senators and representatives in the 41st and 42nd Congress of the United States.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/First_colored_senator_and_reps.jpg?h=a7421b6e&itok=EPFRKxDN)
Names and Freedom
Historians Douglas Egerton and Leon Litwack explain the process of freedpeople adopting new surnames.
![A group of African Americans soberly observe Juneteenth in their hats, canes and bonnets in Austin, TX, 1900.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/Emancipation_Day_celebration_-_1900-06-19%20%281%29.jpg?h=6ea8326e&itok=2mUmYjCx)
Names and Freedom (en español)
In Spanish, historians Douglas Egerton and Leon Litwack explain the process of freedpeople adopting new surnames.
![A group of African Americans soberly observe Juneteenth in their hats, canes and bonnets in Austin, TX, 1900.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/Emancipation_Day_celebration_-_1900-06-19%20%281%29.jpg?h=6ea8326e&itok=2mUmYjCx)
Immigrants: First Generation
Nigerian-born poet Ijeoma Umebinyuo pays tribute to the stories of immigrants and the lives they lead in the United States in this "prose poem."
![High school student participates in class.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/2017_FacH07163_FH256119.png?h=2992ba0a&itok=o5SHUUZF)
Immigrants: First Generation
Read in Spanish as Nigerian-born poet Ijeoma Umebinyuo pays tribute to the stories of immigrants and the lives they lead in the United States in this "prose poem."
![High school student participates in class.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/2017_FacH07163_FH256119.png?h=2992ba0a&itok=o5SHUUZF)
Blackbelt
A high school student reflects on being raised by his older brother and the legacy of the karate blackbelt his brother gave to him.
![Profile of a male high school student.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/2017_Roosevelt.HS26_FH260865.jpg?h=e6cb4de8&itok=PdGIjN4O)
Blackbelt (en español)
In Spanish, a high school student reflects on being raised by his older brother and the legacy of the karate blackbelt his brother gave to him.
![Profile of a male high school student.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2022-06/2017_Roosevelt.HS26_FH260865.jpg?h=e6cb4de8&itok=PdGIjN4O)
“Chameleon” by David L.
A teenager recalls a time he bought shoes to fit in with his high school friends.
“Chameleon” by David L. (en español)
In Spanish, a teenager recalls a time he bought shoes to fit in with his high school friends.