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Born in Greenville, South Carolina, he was educated at St. Albans School, Le Mans Academy, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Chicago Theological Seminary and the University of Illinois. Before entering the House, he was the national field director of the National Rainbow Coalition and a member of the Rainbow/PUSH Action Network. He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
He took his seat in the House after winning a special election in December 1995, following the conviction of Representative Mel Reynolds on sex charges and his subsequent resignation.