Oscar Stanton Depriest

ABOUT OSCAR STANTON DEPRIEST

African-American politician who held office as a United States Representative from Illinois during the late 1920s and early 1930s.

He entered politics with the help of Chicago's political machine; his talents were deemed useful for securing votes from several African-American wards.

He famously told an Alabama senator that the senator was not big enough to prevent him from dining in the Senate restaurant.

His father was part of the Exodus movement to help blacks in the southern states find freedom in the North.

While serving on the Chicago City Council, he was indicted for corruption. With the help of his lawyer, Clarence Darrow , he fought off the charges.