President Obama has rightly credited the many millions of African-Americans who paved the way for his historic White House victory last November. During their long, hard struggle to achieve social equality - one that still remains incomplete - the unique contribution of a quiet congressman from Illinois and his wife has largely been forgotten..
Born in Florence, Alabama in 1871, Oscar De Priest found financial success as a real estate agent and contractor in Chicago in his early 20s. Even if De Priest had not accomplished anything else than being a savvy black businessman from the South, then he still would have been considered as a role-model and pioneer in the black community. De Priest, however, had larger ambitions and refused to be intimidated by structured racism or social bigotry. After serving as an effective alderman in the city of Chicago, De Priest, a Republican, decided to run for Congress in 1928. Herbert Hoover became President that year, and the economy was still 'roaring' on high expectations, heavy investments and a seemingly limitless consumption of goods. Due to his solid character and capacity for hard work, voters in his district made De Priest the first black congressman since the Reconstruction era (1865-77), and he would go to Washington to serve as the only black representative in the House.
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Shortly after arriving in the national capital, Oscar and his wife, Jesse, found themselves in the midst of a heated social controversy. Lou Hoover(1874-1944), the First Lady, graciously invited all the congressional wives to the White House for tea. Since Jesse was black, the invitation immediately caused an outcry and made headlines across the country. Many Americans recalled the firestorm of criticism over Theodore Roosevelt's decision to entertain Booker T. Washington, a black activist, for dinner at the White House nearly three decades earlier. Unfortunately, the social climate had changed little in America since 1901. Blacks, who had been relegated to second-class status with low-wage jobs and inferior schools, still also faced the prospect of being lynched in the South. Hence, the idea of a black man or woman entering the White House as anything but a servant appalled a significant number of Americans. Many whites bristled at the notion of expanding the social order and considered any acceptance of blacks as a threat to their way of life.
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What would Lou Hoover do? Rather than cancel the event or Jesse De Priest's invitation, the White House decided to divide the congressional wives into four groups and have four independent tea times. In the fourth group, Jesse would enter the White House after three-quarters of the other wives had departed and take tea with a carefully screened number of sympathetic invitees hailing from the northern states. The logistical planning paid off. Jesse De Priest, probably quite nervous at the outset, was greeted warmly by her female companions in The Green Room, and she not only survived the ordeal but also managed to impress all of the guests with her charm and grace.
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Regardless of the successful outcome, hysterical reactions were heard from around the South, and Lou Hoover was roundly condemned. A few southern editorial pages even accused her of 'defiling' the White House by having a black woman present in the mansion as an official guest. Hoover was disheartened by the accusations, and Mrs. De Priest likely found the hate-filled uproar repugnant. Yet, both woman carried on with their lives and refused to be browbeaten by shrill sounds of ignorance.
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Ironically, Oscar wound up on the wrong side of history with regard to the Great Depression. As a staunch champion of free enterprise and limited government in much the same manner as the President Hoover, De Priest voted time and again against New Deal legislation that greatly benefited his constituents. While unable to reverse the tide of larger government and the creation of new social programs, De Priest used his legislative skills to pass an amendment outlawing any discrimination in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) - one of largest federal jobs programs created by FDR. As a result, blacks were able find a paycheck at the CCC at a time of unprecedented economic distress.
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Due to opposing New Deal federal assistance from an unwaivering set of free-market convictions, Oscar De Priest was defeated for re-election by a black Democrat (Arthur Mitchell) in 1934. He would serve as alderman again in Chicago before his death at age 80.
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Oscar and Jesse De Priest both deserve a place in the history books for their courageous contribution to civil rights. As a lone black congressman and a lone black congressional wife, the De Priests advanced the American dream of 'liberty and justice for all' by demonstrating the capacity of blacks to achieve a dignified place in society against all odds. If they were alive today, they would be overjoyed at the election of Barack Obama and social progress made in the last half century. Hopefully, a new generation of African-Americans will learn of their accomplishment and follow suit.
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J Roquen