USA Today's DeWayne Wickham Should Brush Up on His History

When the question of why America’s sole black senator Tim Scott (R-SC) was not invited to speak at the events commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the march on Washington, USA Today columnist DeWayne Wickham smugly asked, “And he should have been invited why?“

“He’s one of 50 Senators,” Wickham added. “And he’s appointed, not elected.” 

Tim Scott, who won a hefty 62 percent of the vote in his congressional reelection bid in 2012, was, indeed appointed by South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley to replace the retiring Senator Jim DeMint.

Wickman’s first misstep may have been a mental mistake. Still, any 8th grade civics student can tell you there are 100 U.S. Senators Mr. Wickman, not 50.

And the jab about Senator Scott being appointed to his position in the upper chamber of Congress is particularly interesting, especially when you consider that America’s very first black Republican senator was appointed to office.

That’s right, Mr. Wickman. Take notes.

In 1870, the Mississippi State Congress selected Hiram Revels to represent their state in the United States Senate. Revels occupied the seat once held by Jefferson Davis President of the Confederacy. 

So the questions begs, does DeWayne Wickham honestly think that because Tim Scott was appointed and “not elected,” is reason enough for America’s only black senator to not even be invited to an event celebrating America’s progress on the issue of race?