Story perspectives
Today in History: Edward Brooke makes history as first Black senator
11/8/2025
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Story summary
- On November 8, 1966, Edward Brooke, a former attorney general of Massachusetts, made history by becoming the first African American elected to the United States Senate since Reconstruction. Serving from 1967 to 1979, Brooke's election marked a significant milestone in American politics, highlighting progress in civil rights and representation for African Americans.
