New book spotlights Joseph H. Rainey, first African American to serve in Congress

New book spotlights Joseph H. Rainey, first African American to serve in Congress

Lorna Rainey recalls fondly the times her Aunt Olive told stories about Joseph Hayne Rainey, the first African American elected to serve in the U.S. House of Representaties.

Because of those stories, Lorna, who lives in Baldwin, N.Y., loves to tell her own stories about Rainey, her great-grandfather. She, too, has become a force for freedom and progress, continuing Rainey’s legacy of inspiring people to pursue their dreams.

“Joseph Rainey is my inspiration whenever people try to stop me from achieving my goals,” Lorna said. “If they couldn’t stop him back then, they are not going to stop me now. We choose our paths, and we decide how we are going to affect change.”

Lorna’s new book titled “First in the House” chronicles the extraordinary story of Joseph Rainey’s life, from being born enslaved in South Carolina to eventually serving as the first Black U.S. congressman during the Reconstruction era after the Civil War. She recently spoke about her book and signed copies at The Rice Museum in historic Georgetown, Joseph’s hometown.

He lived in Georgetown for much of his life and has been memorialized with a park and monument on Front Street, as well as the Joseph Hayne Rainey Post Office. He is also featured in an exhibit at The Rice Museum, as well as other museums in the city. The Rice Museum is one of the many historical venues on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast®.

Through real-life events, personal stories, and historical photos, “First in the House” shows how one man’s bravery and hard work made a lasting difference. The book, which can be purchased at The Rice Museum and on Amazon.com, brings Joseph’s story to life in a way that is easy to understand and engaging to read.

Lorna is the owner of Legacy Management & Entertainment LLC, where she focuses on featuring people of color in television and movies. She is now working on a documentary film based on her book.

As a U.S. congressman, Joseph Rainey fought to pass laws that protected Black citizens from violence and discrimination, and he worked to make life easier for African Americans, Native Americans, and immigrant workers.

With courage and determination, he changed his own life – and American history, too. After Joseph’s father worked for 10 years as a barber to earn enough money to gain the freedom for Joseph and his older brother, Edward Jr. With a new outlook on life, Rainey worked hard and found success in his endeavors.

When the Civil War forced him to flee to Bermuda, Rainey and his wife, Susan, created a thriving business. But even with success, he never forgot those who were still struggling. When the war ended, he returned to the United States to help newly freed Black citizens gain the rights they deserved. He entered politics and, in 1870, became the first duly elected Black congressman, where he served until 1879.

Lorna asked the group gathered at The Rice Museum to imagine walking into the chamber of the U.S. Congress as the only Black person there.

“Imagine how that must have felt,” she said. “You are walking into a chamber with 233 other peers who are all white and many of whom don’t believe that you belong there. How do you combat that? You do that by being prepared and go toe-to-toe with them, no matter what. You know more than they know and definitely know more than they think you know.”

During his time in office, Rainey fought to pass laws to protect Black citizens from violence and discrimination. Even when he received threats from groups like the Ku Klux Klan, he refused to back down.

While discussing the book, Lorna described a potentially fraught trip her great-grandfather took across South Carolina from Georgetown to Bennetsville, more than 100 miles away. She writes about he would have been in a horse-drawn carriage and the bravery it took to make that trip, knowing that he was a potential target of the KKK.

“Earlier that day,” she said, “he received a letter that instructed him to get ready to ‘meet his god’.”

But Joseph Hayne Rainey didn’t back down. His bravery, his great-granddaughter said, showed the strength of character and defined the leadership who would foster and shape for the future of civil rights in America.

“He became the voice for the voiceless and hope for the hopeless,” Lorna said. “And even though there was resistance, he persisted.”

Lorna hopes her book will be embraced by young readers who might enjoy history, politics, and stories about real people who changed the world.

“It reminds us that no matter where we start in life, we all have the power to make a difference,” she said. “His story is an inspiration to everyone because we are all related.”

Jim Fitch, director of The Rice Museum, said that the book discussion and signing afterward was an emotional event for him.

“Joseph Rainey was a trailblazer,” he said. “He is an important historical figure and icon and publicizing him this way is appropriate, especially in this day and age.”

He was born in 1832 and died in 1887, eight years after his history-making stint in the U.S. House of Representatives ended.

Local historians who attended the event agreed. Steve Williams, author of several books including, “24 Extraordinary People Who Made a Difference,” which includes Joseph Rainey, said he enjoys anything that promotes the man and his accomplishments.

“Although he is well-known to some, his legacy is unsung to many, including young people,” he said. “That’s why I’m glad she wrote the story on a level that children can understand.”

Lorna Rainey’s book, “First in the House,” can be purchased at The Rice Museum, at 633 Front St. in Georgetown, or at Amazon.com.

Published June 26, 2025, by Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina’s Hammock Coast®