Former Rep. John Conyers, the longest-serving African-American congressman in American history, died Sunday at 90
Former Rep. John Conyers, the longest-serving African-American congressman in American history, died Sunday.
Conyers served during his career as chairman of the House Oversight Committee and later the House Judiciary Committee. He was also one of the co-founders of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1969. The next year, he made his first run for Congress. Michigan’s congressional districts had been redrawn after a 1962 Supreme Court decision,, which made it unconstitutional to draw districts in a way that under-represents minority voters. Conyers prevailed in a battle for an open seat.
“If it wasn’t for Rosa Parks, I never would have gotten elected,” he said, according to Jeanne Theoharis’ “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks.” The Detroit Democrat was consistently a progressive voice and would always, for better or worse, be identified with progressive causes. Frequently, he was a thorn in the side of Republican presidents. In 1971, he was listed as one of 20 names in an enemies list drawn up by the Nixon White House, alongside such notables as the actor Paul Newman and journalist Daniel Schorr.
From right, Rep. John Conyers, the Rev Jesse Jackson and Rep. Charlie Rangel confer at a congressional hearing on police brutality in September 1983. | Mario Cabrera/AP Photo
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