Jim Clyburn is an American politician from South Carolina who has a long history of civil rights activism. He was the second African American and the first South Carolinian to serve as majority whip in the U.S. House of Representatives. Clyburn grew up during a time of racial discrimination and segregation and became involved in the civil rights movement, even participating in demonstrations that led to his imprisonment.
After a failed bid for the South Carolina House of Representatives, Clyburn worked as an adviser to the state governor and eventually became the state’s human affairs commissioner. In 1992, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first African American from his state to serve in that capacity since 1897.
Clyburn has been a strong advocate for liberal policies, especially in areas such as health care, education, and labor rights. He has supported legislation to ban the mistreatment of individuals in military custody, increase the federal minimum wage, and reform the U.S. health insurance system through the Affordable Care Act. He has also been a vocal supporter of preserving Gullah culture in South Carolina.
Throughout his career, Clyburn has risen through the ranks of the Democratic Party, serving as majority whip when Democrats gained control of the House in 2006. He later became assistant leader in 2011 and majority whip again in 2019. Despite losing the House majority in the 2022 midterms, Clyburn remains a prominent figure in the party and continues to advocate for progressive policies. He is also the author of a book on civil rights called Uncommon Ground: The Story of Briggs v. Elliott, South Carolina’s Unsung Civil Rights Battle.
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