Oscar went to Salina Normal School and studied bookkeeping. He moved to Chicago in 1889 there he worked as house painter. He became a real estate broker and contractor. He helped black families move into all white neighborhoods. He was on the board of commissioners of Cook County from 1904 to 1908. Form 1915 to 1917 he was on the Chicago City Council. He was Chicago's first alderman. In 1917 he was accused of being involved with a mob and stepped down.
In 1919 he was the top republican in Chicago besides the mayor . When the Martin B. Madden, the republican congressman, died in 1928 Oscar replaced him on the ballot. He elected to congress and was also the first African American elected in the 20th century. He was the only black representative in Congress during his three consecutive terms. While he served he proposed several anti-discrimination bills. One was the amendment to the CCC in 1933 banding discrimination in the Corps. This was signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt. He also tried to make lynching a federal law but it failed.
Some people did not like him because he did not agree with federal aid for the poor. In 1929 he made national news when his wife was invited by Lou Hoover for tea. Also he is known for appointing Benjamin O. Davis Jr. to the military academy which only had one African American in it at the time which was Davis's father.
However in 1930s his was not very like due to him not like the New Deal programs. He was replaced on the senate in 1934. He was replaced by a African American named Arthur W. Mitchell. In 1943 he was reelected for the Chicago City Council. He served until 1947. He died at age 80 in Chicago.
This is a very inspiring man. This is an example of a boy that was poor and he grow to be a very important man in our history.
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