MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
After three decades in office, you might think you know everything there is to know about one of the Democratic Party's most influential lawmakers, Congressman Jim Clyburn of South Carolina. But one assumption many have about him is incorrect. He is not the first Black congressman from his native state. There were eight others before him. His new book, "The First Eight," tells the story of these eight men who overcame incredible odds from slavery to freedom to the bloody backlash of Reconstruction and paved the way for him and others in American politics. And Congressman Clyburn is with us now in our studios in Washington, D.C. Congressman, thank you so much for coming by to see us.
JIM CLYBURN: Well, thank you very much for having me.
MARTIN: I know that you were a history teacher before you entered politics, although you were always, you know, an activist. But so many of the people in your book many people have never heard of. And I wondered, how did you know about them?
CLYBURN: My daddy was a real stickler for education. And my dad thought that Robert Smalls was a great guy.
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