African-Americans have been monumental -- and often controversial -- forces in the political realm since Reconstruction.
Americans are hip to Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks and Shirley Chisholm. But these weren't the only people calling for sociopolitical change and advocating for justice.
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Black history is American history. So here are six lesser-known black politicians who broke barriers, fought for racial equality and played significant roles in constructing U.S. policy:
Robert Smalls
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George Edwin Taylor
Murphy Library Univ. of Wisconsin
Alexis Herman
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Cynthia McKinney
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Jane Bolin
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Harold Washington
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Before You Go
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The Potato Chip
Open Heart Surgery
The Light Bulb
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The Dougie