Blanche Kelso Bruce
United States Senate: 1875-1881
Born: March 1, 1841 in Farmville, VA
Died: March 17, 1898 in Washington, DC
Because Blanche K. Bruce is already well-researched and well-documented, I refer visitors to the many other sources on him.
"We simply demand the practical recognition of the rights given us in the Constitution and laws, and ask from our white fellow-citizens only the consideration and fairness that we so willingly extend to them."
(B. K. Bruce, from the speech "Voting Practices in the State of Mississippi," quoted in Annjennette Sophie McFarlin, Black Congressional Reconstruction Orators and Their Orations, 1869-1879, 1976)
Links:
Wikipedia: Blanche Bruce
US Senate Featured Biography
Memorial on Find A Grave