Black History and the Republican Party : Oscar Stanton de Priest

Oscar Stanton De Priest (March 9, 1871 – May 12, 1951) was an American lawmaker and civil rightsadvocate who served as a U.S. Representative from Illinois from 1929 to 1935. He was the first African American to be elected to Congress in the 20th century.

De Priest was born in Florence, Alabama to former slaves. His mother worked part-time as a laundress, and his father, Alexander, was a teamster associated with the “Exodus” movement, which arose after the American Civil War to help blacks escape continued oppression in the South by moving to other states that offered greater freedom. In 1878, the De Priests left for Dayton, Ohio, after the elder De Priest had to save a friend who was a former Congressman from a lynch mob and another black man was killed on their doorstep. He had a brother named Robert De Priest.

Black History and the Republican Party : Peter Boulware

Peter Nicholas Boulware (born December 18, 1974) is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He played college football for Florida State University, and was recognized as an All-American. A first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 1997 NFL Draft, he played his entire pro career for the Ravens.

Boulware was a Republican candidate for the Florida House of Representatives in the 2008 general election.