James Edward O’Hara

Congressman James O’Hara was the second African American to represent North Carolina in Congress, serving from 1883 to 1887 (48th-49th Congresses) in the U.S. House of Representatives. For the period between the start of this term until Robert Smalls return to Congress in March 1844, O’Hara was the only Black congressman in Congress. He served on the Mines and Mining, Expenditures on Public Buildings, and Invalid Pensions committees. O’Hara unsuccessfully proposed several critical pieces of legislation on behalf of Black Americans. These included a civil rights amendment to the Constitution, reimbursement of depositors in the failed Freedman’s Bank, an amendment to an interstate commerce bill to prevent segregation of railroad passengers, and an investigation of the 1886 attack on a Carrollton, Mississippi courthouse, which resulted in the death of twenty-three Black Americans. O’Hara also supported equal pay for male and female teachers. He was the first Black American admitted to the North Carolina Bar.