This Day in Black History: May 16, 1929
Representative John Conyers Jr. is a Detroit Democrat who represents the 14th Congressional District. Conyers, who entered the U.S. House of Representatives in 1965, was born on May 16, 1929, in Detroit, where he was raised.
Conyers earned his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees at Wayne State University in 1957 and 1958, respectively. In 1969, he was one of the 13 founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Conyers' accomplishments include the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, the Motor Voter Bill of 1993, the Martin Luther King Holiday Act of 1983 and a long list of others.
During his 40 years in Congress, he has pushed for creating and protecting jobs in Southeast Michigan, protecting Michigan's homeowners, and protecting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. He is also heavily involved in international efforts to help Afghanistan, Iraq and Haiti.
BET Politics - Your source for the latest news, photos and videos illuminating key issues and personalities in African-American political life, plus commentary from some of our liveliest voices. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Get ready for the BET Experience, featuring Beyoncé, Snoop Dogg, R. Kelly, Erykah Badu, Kendrick Lamar and many more. Go here for more details and info on how to buy tickets.
(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)