The way history is taught today, many successful Black entrepreneurs, business people, and politicians are left out of the story. Frequently overlooked is Blanche Kelso Bruce.
Bruce was a child of the plantation to his mother Polly Bruce, and a white plantation owner. Bruce’s father ensured he was well educated - all while refusing to free him. At the beginning of the civil war, Bruce fled slavery and headed north.
After founding Missouri’s first school for Black children in 1864, Bruce set his sights on ventures in Mississippi where his gaze turned to politics. By 1874, he had accumulated wealth and stature in the community and was elected to fill the senator seat left empty by Hiram Revels.
His career was grounded in his desire to advocate for his fellow Black Americans, however, his loyalty was considered divided because he was biracial. He served a single term, moving instead to become the register of the Treasury for two separate terms - the second of which he held until his death.
Bruce went on to be the recorder of deeds in Washington D.C., as well as a trustee of Howard University. His legacy of fighting for Black people is long but long forgotten. With so much of our history erased, we must continue to search for the truth and power of those who came before us.