In response to Trump's executive order limiting birthright citizenship, Marilyn Hemingway from the Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce recalls the legacy of Joseph Hayne Rainey, an influential figure in American history. Rainey was the first Black person elected to Congress and a staunch defender of the 14th amendment, which established citizenship for formerly enslaved individuals. Hemingway underscores the importance of understanding Rainey’s life story as reflective of the broader American experience and the crucial need for citizenship rights following emancipation, emphasizing the continued relevance of these historical struggles today.
Hemingway reflects that, after emancipation, Black Americans needed to be made citizens, as previously they had no standing in society, highlighting Rainey's journey.
Rainey’s support for the 14th and 15th amendments, influenced by his history as an enslaved person, emphasized the necessity of protecting the rights of Black Americans.
#birthright-citizenship #gullah-geechee #african-american-history #joseph-hayne-rainey #civil-rights
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