YACM AME ZION

 Little Known Black History Fact

Congressman Jefferson Franklin Long (1836-1907)

He was a Republican who represented Georgia in the 41st Congress. He was the first black member to speak on the floor of the House of Representatives, and was the only black representative from Georgia for just over a century. Long was born a slave in Knoxville, Georgia on March 3, 1836. Little is known of his early years, however by the end of the civil war he had been educated and was working as a tailor in the town of Macon. He was prosperous in business and involved in local politics.