Richard H. Cain

They served in Congress as early as the 1870s.

There was a Richard Harvey Cain, who was a Republican congressman at that time.

He also was a leader of Charleston's Emanuel AME Church, which a century and a half later became known for a tragedy related to a massacre at a Bible study.

But he was followed by Democrats, including New York Pastor Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who was in Congress in the 40s, and then Floyd Flake, who served in the 80s.

We know the reconstruction story.

Richard Harvey Cain, the pastor that I mentioned, used the church, used his pulpit as a springboard into business and publishing and politics.

Of course, by the end of reconstruction, he is largely broken politically and has retreated back into the comfort of the church for the rest of his life.

certainly saw it during the civil rights movement.