What A Day Rep. Jim Clyburn Offers A Historical Warning
Dec 5, 2025
Jim Clyburn, the Senior U.S. Representative from South Carolina and author of *The First Eight*, shares insights on the historical significance of early Black congressmen from his state. He discusses the stark contrast between their Republican roots and today's GOP, highlighting rising conspiratorial and violent trends among newer party members. Clyburn also recounts inspiring stories from figures like Joseph Rainey and Robert Smalls, while stressing the importance of voting rights and resilience for future activists.
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GOP Shift Driven By New Entrant Voters
- Newer Republican voters trend more conspiratorial, racist, antisemitic, and open to political violence according to a Manhattan Institute survey.
- Jim Clyburn warns this shift is pulling the GOP toward those attitudes and is cause for real concern.
Joseph Rainey’s Path From Enslavement To Congress
- Joseph Rainey was born enslaved but became free when his barber father bought the family's freedom and later became the first Black person elected to Congress.
- Jim Clyburn uses Rainey's life to show how varied relationships to slavery shaped the First Eight's paths to office.
Robert Smalls’ Daring Escape And Impact
- Robert Smalls escaped slavery by stealing the Confederate ship Planter and delivering it to Union forces, later recruiting Black soldiers for the Union.
- Jim Clyburn calls Smalls the most consequential South Carolinian for convincing Lincoln to allow Black enlistment and altering the war's course.
