Who is james e clyburn

In , he was elected chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, the first southerner to do so. As a legislator, he supports legislation that addresses health care, transportation, environmental justice, education, free trade, and historic preservation. In , he was elected vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus. At the time, this was also the highest Congressional post held by an African American. He served in this post from to , served as Assistant Democratic Leader from to , and as of is again the Majority Whip.

Dulaney, W. August 10, He worked on the staff of Gov. John C. West and served as the state's human affairs commissioner before being elected to Congress in Clyburn was elected chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus in , and he served as House Majority Whip from to His humble beginnings as the eldest son of an activist fundamentalist minister and an independent civic minded beautician grounded him securely in family, faith and public service.

Growing up knowing many of the families involved in the desegregation case Briggs v. Elliott -- which later became part of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case -- Clyburn was active in the civil rights movement. He was elected president of his NAACP youth chapter when he was 12 years old, participated in many marches and demonstrations, and was chosen as the star witness in an Orangeburg civil disobedience case defended by the legendary Matthew Perry. That case developed from the arrest of college students -- two of whom were Jim and Emily England of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, whom he met during that incarceration.

He was later jailed during the march on the South Carolina State Capitol in Columbia that resulted in the landmark breach of the peace case Edwards v South Carolina. Jim and Emily have been married since June 24, They began their personal and professional lives together in Charleston, South Carolina, he as a history teacher and she as a librarian in the public school system.

Jim later served as an employment counselor, and director of two youth and community development programs. In , he became director of a migrant and seasonal farm workers program.