Approximately 90% of the 100,000 registered black voters were members of the Republican Party and 20-25% of the registered white voters were members of the Republican Party.  Blacks at this time in history were members of the Republican Party because it was viewed as the party of Abraham Lincoln. 

John R. Lynch was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1869. He was reelected in 1871 and in 1872 became Speaker of the House.  John R. Lynch was born a slave in Concordia Parish, Louisiana to a slave mother and a wealthy white planter.  Since John R. Lynch is the only mentioned black leader in the House of Representatives, one can assume that no other blacks held committee chair positions.

The Reconstruction governments were viewed as more compassionate and democratic than any the state had known before. Money was raised to build hospitals, expand state asylums, and repair public works devastated by war.  In 1870, the legislature passed Mississippi's first public education law, guaranteeing four months of free schooling each year to all children, regardless of race.

According to Michael J. Klarman, 64 blacks sat in the Mississippi legislature in 1873 and no blacks sat in the legislature after 1895.  It was not until 1967 that another black would sit in the Mississippi legislature.  In 1967 Robert G. Clark became the first black since reconstruction elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives from Holmes County. He was one of 122 members of the Mississippi House. In 1976, he was appointed chair of the Education Committee.  This appointment came under the Speakership of Buddy Newman.

In 1976 Fred L. Banks, Jr.   and Horace L. Buckley joined Robert G. Clark at the Mississippi House of Representatives.  Fred L. Banks, Jr. became chair of the Ethics Committee. His appointment came under the Speakership of Buddy Newman. Fred L. Banks, Jr. left the House of Representatives in 1985.

In 1979 Edward Blackmon, Jr.  was elected to the Mississippi House and in 1980 Charles Young, Jr., Percy Watson, Clayton Henderson, Barney Schoby, Leslie King, Aaron Henry, Charles Shepphard, Leslie King, David Green, Credell Calhoun, Hillman Frazier, Isiah Fredericks  and Tyrone Ellis were elected.  In 1988 Alyce Clarke, Mitchell Ellerby, Walter Robinson, and  Alfred Walker were elected.  Alyce Clarke was the first Black woman to be elected to the legislature.  

Tim Ford  was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on January 5, 1988.  He was elected by acclamation meaning no opposition.  During this period 6 blacks out of 20  were appointed chairman of committees. Representative Percy Watson was appointed Chairman of  the Judiciary A committee, Representative Robert Clark. was appointed Chairman of the Ethics  committee, Representative Charles Young was appointed Chairman of Municipalities Committee and Representative Isiah Fredericks was appointed Chairman of the Public Utilities Committee,  Representative Credell Calhoun was appointed Chairman of Enrolled Bills and Representative Hillman Frazier was appointed Chairman of the State Library Committee
On January 7, 1992 Tim Ford was reelected Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives.  11 blacks out of  21 supported his candidacy.   Tim Ford made four blacks chairs of committees.  Representative Edward Blackmon, Jr. became chairman of Judiciary B.  Representative Tyrone Ellis became chairman of Public Utilities.  Representative Clayton Henderson became chairman of Enrolled Bills and Representative Charles Young became chairman of Executive Contingent Fund. 

As a result of redistricting on January 5, 1993,   32 blacks took the oath of office in the Mississippi House of Representatives.  Seven blacks received chairmanships of committes under Speaker Tim Ford.  Representative George Flaggs was appointed chairman of the Labor committee. Representative Hillman Frazier chairman of State Library, Representative Clayton Henderson was appointed chairman of Enrolled Bills.  Representative Edward Blackmon, Jr.  was appointed chairman of Judiciary  B Committee.  Representative Charles Young was appointed chairman of Universities and Colleges, Representative Barney Schoby was appointed chairman of Executive Contingent Fund and Representative Hillman Frazier was appointed chairman of State Library. 

On January 2, 1996 Tim Ford was reelected speaker by acclamation.  Seven blacks received chairmanships.   The total number of blacks in the House of Representatives remained 32.  Six blacks received chairmanships.  Representative Edward Blackmon, Jr. became chairman of Judiciary B; Representative Charles Young became chairman of Universities and Colleges; Representative Tyrone Ellis became chairman of Public Utilities; Representative George Flaggs became chairman of Labor; Representative Clayton Henderson became chairman of Enrolled Bills and Representative Barney Schoby became chairman of Executive Contingent Fund.

On January 4, 2000 Speaker Tim Ford was reelected by acclamation.  Speaker Ford appointed 9 blacks out of the total of 32 to chairmanships.  Representative David Green became chairman of County Affairs; Representative Clayton Henderson became chairman of Enrollled Bills; Representative Walter Robinson became chairman of Executive Contingent Fund; Representative Percy Watson became chairman of Judiciary A;  Representative Edward Blackmon, Jr. became chairman of Judiciary B; Representative George Flaggs became chairman of Juvenile Justice; Representative Tyrone Ellis became chairman of Public Utilities; Representative Charles Young became chairman of Universities and Colleges and Representative Alyce Clarke became chairman of State Library. 

In 2004, Billy McCoy was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. 12  out of 33 blacks received chairmanships.  Representative Percy Watson became the first black in the state’s history to chair the Ways and Means Committee.  Representative Edward Blackmon, Jr. became chair of Judiciary A; Representative Charles Young retained Universities and Colleges; Representative Tyrone Ellis retained Public Utilities; Representative George Flaggs retained Juvenile Justice; Representative David Green  became chair of Fees and Salaries; Representative Willie Perkins became chair of Local and Private; Representative Leonard Morris became chairman of Medicaid; Representative Billy Broomfield became chairman of Ports, Harbors and Airports; Representative Edward Blackmon, Jr. became chairman of the Select Committee on Accessible and Affordable Medical Malpractice Insurance; Representative Credell Calhoun became chairman of Enrolled Bills; and Representative Alyce Clarke retained  chairman of State Library. 

On January 17, 2008 history was made where 27 blacks out of a total of 37  were appointed committee chairs.  The other 10 blacks were appointed vice chairs of committees.  These unprecedented appointments were made by Billy McCoy, Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives after an extremely narrow win for Speaker. 

Speaker McCoy appointed the following:  Representative George Flaggs, Banking and Financial Services; Representative James Evans, Constitution; Representative David Gibbs, County Affairs; Representative America Chuck Middleton, Enrolled Bills; Representative Alyce G. Clarke, Ethics; Representative John W. Hines, Sr., Executive Contingent Fund; Representative Linda Coleman, Fees and Salaries; Representative Gregory Holloway, Forestry; Representative Walter L. Robinson, Jr., Insurance; Representative Robert E. Huddleston, Interstate Cooperation; Representative Ferr Smith, Investigate State Offices; Representative Edward Blackmon, Jr., Judiciary A; Representative Willie Bailey, Judiciary B; Representative Edward Blackmon, Jr., Judiciary En Banc; Representative Earle S. Banks, Juvenile Justice; Representative Willie J. Perkins, Sr., Local and Private Legislation; Representative Frances Fredericks, Marine Resources; Representative Credell Calhoun, Military Affairs; Representative David W. Myers, Municipalities; Representative Billy Broomfield, Ports, Harbors and Airports; Representative Mary H. Coleman, Public Property; Representative Tyrone Ellis, Public Utilities; Representative Reecy L. Dickson, Select Committee on Poverty; Representative Esther Harrison, State Library; Representative Charles L. Young, Universities and Colleges and Representative Percy Watson, Ways and Means.   The 27 appointments as a whole are extremely significant because the group collectively will hold sway over a sizeable amount of legislation.

While reference was not made to any vice chair positions in other sessions, the 2008 session appointments of vice chairmen are worth noting because of the committees that the vice chairs were appointed.  Representative Adrienne Wooten was appointed Vice Chairman of Apportionment and Elections.  This committee will draw all legislative and judicial lines after the 2010 census.  Representative Adrienne Wooten was appointed Vice Chairman of Congressional Redistricting.  This committee will draw the congressional lines after the 2010 census.  Representative Sara R. Thomas was appointed vice chair of Education.  Representative Chuck Espy was appointed Vice chair of Fees and Salaries of Public Officers.  Representative Angela Cockerham was appointed Vice Chairman of Judiciary A.  Representative Willie Bailey was appointed vice chair of Judiciary En Banc. Representative Kimberly L. Campbell was appointed vice chair of Local and  Private Legislation , Representative Omeria Scott was appointed vice chair of Public Health and Human Services.  Representative Robert Johnson was appointed vice chair of Medicaid.

From no blacks being in the House of Representatives prior to Reconstruction to one black being speaker of the House during Reconstruction to 2 blacks holding chairmanships under Speaker Buddy Newman to 9 blacks holding chairmanships under Speaker Tim Ford to 27 blacks holding chairmanships under Speaker Billy McCoy, the black members of the House of Representatives have the ability to wield unprecedented influence.   During reconstruction progressive legislation was passed according to Mississippi history. Let us pray for progressive policies as was done during the Reconstruction Period.

---