The First Eight: A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressmen Who Shaped a Nation

After the Civil War, South Carolina sent eight Black men to Congress, among them Joseph Rainey, the first Black member of the U.S. House, and Robert Smalls, who escaped slavery by commandeering a Confederate ship. Then Jim Crow shut the door for nearly a century, until Jim Clyburn became the ninth. Blending Reconstruction history with his own memories, Clyburn honors these trailblazers and reflects on how far the country has come and how far it still has to go.

Author: Jim Clyburn
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (2025)
Format: Hardcover
Ages: Adult (18+)
ISBN: 9780316572743