James Thomas Rapier

Congressman James Rapier was one of three Black representatives to Congress from Alabama during Reconstruction. He served for one term, from 1873 to 1875 (43rd Congress), and was assigned to the Education and Labor Committee. Rapier proposed the establishment of an office to help Black Americans acquire land in the West and the allocation of $5 million for public schools in the South. He secured the passage of a bill to make Alabama’s capital a federal port of delivery and asked Congress to provide greater financial oversight of southern land grant colleges.