U.S. Census Bureau Black History Month Feature for Feb. 5

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily Black History Month feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5: SENATOR EDWARD BROOKE

Profile America for the fifth day of Black History Month. Edward Brooke, born in Washington, D.C., was the first African-American to be elected by popular vote to the U.S. Senate when he was elected from Massachusetts in 1966. In his two terms, Brooke fought housing discrimination and championed women's rights and voting rights. Among his honors, Edward Brooke has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Last fall, two days after his 90th birthday, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. When Brooke entered the Senate in 1967 as the lone black, there were only six serving in the House of Representatives. Today, there remains one black senator, but 41 in the House. This special edition of Profile America is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau, conducting the 2010 Census beginning April 1st.

Sources: Office of History and Preservation, Office of the Clerk, Black Americans in Congress, 1870–2007

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 398

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau