The Story of Arthur Wergs Mitchell - Essay Example

?The Story of Arthur Wergs Mitchell Arthur Wergs Mitchell is one of the few African Americans, who had a vast participation in American politics. Despite being black, Mitchell has fought for his right to run for a position in the government and has gained sympathy from the black voters that have led him to becoming the first African American Democrat Congressman in American history. Arthur Wergs Mitchell has experienced the highs and lows of both his personal and political life. As expected, being black upon the olden days is a challenge because one has to deal with all the discrimination and judgment of society, as a result of the nation’s history of slavery. Arthur Mitchell has experienced these forms of social prejudices. Still and all, he has managed to contribute to the fight of the African Americans into promoting equality and ending racial discrimination. Arthur Wergs Mitchell was born on December 22 1883, at Roanoke, Alabama and was the son of former slaves Taylor and Ammar Mitchell (Asseln 1995). His father has worked as a modest farmer to raise his family. Mitchell studied in public schools and has financed his college education at the Tuskegee Institute by working as a university assistant and farm laborer (Arthur Wergs Mitchell 2013). After a year at the Tuskegee Institute, Mitchell transferred to Snow Hill Institute, where he was mentored by a Washington protege in the person of Professor William J. Edwards (Nordin 2007). Mitchell’s beliefs toward his own teaching skills and capabilities have later on led him to putting up a vocational elementary school, the West Alabama Normal and Industrial Institute that was exclusive for African American children (Nordin 2007). These milestones have also brought difficulties to the life of Mitchell. He was accused of deceiving the poor blacks to working for cheap labor and was even charged of defrauding them to obtain their land titles. He was sued by the black farmers, but has managed to avoid prosecution (Asseln 1995). Nonetheless, the charges filed against Mitchell did not hinder him to moving toward his goal of becoming a lawyer. Eventually, Mitchell has left Alabama and moved to Washington. Then, he went to Chicago to pursue law. On 1919, he has moved to Washington D.C., where he has tried to familiarize himself with the law and has gone to real estate by establishing the Mutual Housing Company of Washington D.C (Asseln 1995). In spite of his lack of formal law education, Mitchell passed the bar in Chicago, Illinois in 1927 (Asseln 1995). He has later on ventured into the practice of law by opening a law office that has paved the way for him to creating a connection with the Republican Party (Asseln 1995). This then marked the beginning of his political career as the first African American democrat in the country. Mitchell has worked for the Republican Party and has managed the campaign of the Republican presidential bet Herbert Hoover (Nordin 2007). This responsibility has made him inspired to entering the arena of politics. Upon joining politics, Mitchell left the Republican Party and became a Democrat. As a democrat, he had the advantage of representing the black community, for he was seen by the party leader as one who will not intrude in the plans of the white political leaders that may be unfavorable for the black constituents (Nordin 2007). Arthur Mitchell replaced Harry Brooke as candidate of the Democratic Party for Congress Representative due to his sudden death (Arthur Wergs Mitchell 2013). Mitchell rivaled with fellow African American Oscar De Priest, but Mitchell managed to defeat Brooke, thereby, electing him as the very first African American Democrat to represent a state in the American Congress in November 7, 1934 (Arthur Wergs Mitchell 2013). Mitchell expressed his support to “President Roosevelt and the New Deal” during his tenure in Congress (Arthur Wergs Mitchell 2013). On the one hand, Mitchell got involved in a controversy that prompted him to file charges against the Illinois Central and Rock Island Railroads. The controversy pertains to his accusation of “discriminatory treatment of railroad accommodations for African-American passengers” that took place while he was on an interstate train going to Hot Springs (Garland County) (Spurgeon 2010). Mitchell succeeded in this legal battle, when the Supreme Court finally prohibited the segregation in interstate railroad transportation (Asseln 1995). He considered this victory as one giant leap to the promotion of equality in interstate travel especially for the African American people (Asseln 1995). After his fourth term, Mitchell retired and lived in his farm in Petersburg, Virginia. The personal life of Arthur Mitchell became as colorful as his political life, for he became a widow and married several times. From this marriage, he only had one son, Arthur Wergs Mitchell Jr., who unfortunately spent adulthood in a mental institution (Nordin 2007). Mitchell served his four terms in Congress doing what he taught was good for the majority amidst the challenges that were brought by political tension. By and large, although, he was often focused on his chosen career path, he was still able to contribute to the alleviation of racial discrimination by working on laws that benefit the African Americans in the society. His achievement as a pioneer African American Democrat in Congress has already made a mark that made him an unforgettable persona in the history of American politics. Like any other politician in American history, Mitchell had his strengths and weaknesses that had brought him success, as well as failure. For instance, he succeeded in the aspect of defending the rights of African Americans toward discrimination, when he won the case against Illinois Central and Rock Island Railroads. Diversely, Mitchell failed during his early life since he became overly centered on his self-help philosophy. Still, in spite of his failures, Mitchell is deemed as one prominent African American who made a difference in the lives of the African American people. The changes that he made to happen as he entered politics are evidences of his commitment to fulfilling his responsibility in Congress. References Arthur Wergs Mitchell. 2013. Black Americans in Congress. http://baic.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=31 Asseln, Diane. 1995. Arthur W. Mitchell Papers,1898-1968 (bulk 1934-1942). Chicago History Museum, research Center. http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/M-M/MitchellArthur-inv.htm Nordin, Dennis. 2007. Arthur Wergs Mitchell. Encyclopedia of Alabama. http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1353 Spurgeon, John. 2010. Mitchell v. United States. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/ entry-detail.aspx?entryID=6277 Read More