A Representative from Illinois; born in Greenville, Pickens County, S.C., March 11, 1965; B.S., North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Greensboro, N.C., 1987; M.A., Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago, Ill., 1989; J.D., University of Illinois College of Law, Chicago, Ill., 1993; secretary, Democratic National Committee’s Black Caucus; national field director, National Rainbow Coalition, 1993-1995; member, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Fourth Congress, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of United States Representative Mel Reynolds, reelected to the eight succeeding Congresses until his resignation on November 21, 2012 (December 12, 1995-November 21, 2012); elected to the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, but declined his seat. Congressman has authored 4 books, Legal Lynching I, 2003, Legal Lunching II, 2007 published by Doubleday, It’s About the Money, 1999, published by Crown, and A More Perfect Union, Archway Publishing.