Got High on Tech Talk

Did you know that there have only been five African-American United States Senators in the history of the nation? Hiram Revels was the first, in 1870, from Mississippi. The New York Times covered the story:

"Washington, Feb. 25 -- Mr. Revels, the colored Senator from Mississippi, was sworn in and admitted to his seat this afternoon at 4:40 o'clock. There was not an inch of standing or sitting room in the galleries, so densely were they packed; and to say that the interest was intense gives but a faint idea of the feeling which prevailed throughout the entire proceeding. [....] Mr. Sumner made the closing speech for the Republican side of the question. It was brief, pithy and eloquent. Then came Mr. Stockton in deference of his party. He was boisterous and commonplace, and his speech was much better suited to the stump than to the Senate. [....] The question was then put on the admission, which was passed by the same strict drawing of the party lines. Only one thing remained, which was that the first colored Senator elect should advance to the Speaker's desk and be sworn. The Vice-President made the announcement to the galleries that all demonstrations of approval or disapproval would be promptly suppressed. [.... ] When the Vice-President uttered the words, "The Senator elect will now advance and take the oath," a pin might have been heard drop. [.... ] The ceremony was short. Mr. Revels showed no embarrassment whatever, and his demeanor was as dignified as could be expected under the circumstances. The abuse which had been poured upon him and on his race during the last two days might well have shaken the nerves of any one. The vast throng in the galleries showed no sign of feeling one way or the other, and left very quietly."

Senator Revels had been elected to the Senate by his state legislature, as was the practice before the 17th amendment took effect in 1913, which provided for direct election of U.S. Senators. He served for only one year, and then became a university president. Only four other African-Americans followed him in the Senate. Blanche Bruce (a man), from Mississippi, in 1875, Edward Brooke, from Massachusetts, in 1967, and Carol Moseley Braun in 1993, and Barack Obama in 2005, both from Illinois.

I discovered this interesting history after reading our three Tech Talk articles for this week. All three provided links to a variety of web-based information about their topic areas. I promptly went searching for topics that would lend themselves to similar searches. Besides the "five African-American senators," I found a variety of topics that fascinated me: Africa; accidental and little-known presidents, like Millard Fillmore, Chester Arthur and Gerald Ford; spying and guerrilla warfare in the American Revolutionary War; the 1000 days of the presidency of John F. Kennedy; China; the city of New Orleans, its history, and the aftermath of hurricane Katrina; the California Gold Rush; the U.S. Constitution from 1787 to 2000; the Sahara Desert from medieval times to World War II; and Death Valley National Park.

I read through the history and social science standards for several grade levels to see where some of my interesting topics might fit, and concluded that all of them could be tied to standards in some way.

But, the fun part was in the searching around, and seeing all the incredible information about history and social studies that is out there, and how excited I got thinking about all of the things I could have an opportunity to teach in the not-too-distant future.

So, apart from all the stress I am feeling about the assignments due in my classes this spring, there is still unlimited joy to be found in the pursuit of knowledge, and in teaching it.