From Slave to State Legislator John W E Thomas Illinois' First African American Lawmaker The book "From Slave to State Legislator John W E Thomas Illinois' First African American Lawmaker" tells the story of John W. E. Thomas, who was born into slavery in 1824 but went on to become one of the first African Americans elected to public office in the United States. The book explores how Thomas overcame incredible obstacles to achieve his goals, including racism, poverty, and lack of access to education. It also examines how he used his experiences as a slave and a freedman to shape his political views and advocate for the rights of African Americans in Illinois. The book begins by describing Thomas' early life as a slave in Kentucky, where he was forced to work long hours in the fields under the hot sun without any pay or rest. Despite the hardships he faced, Thomas never lost hope that one day he would be free and have the opportunity to make a better life for himself. He eventually escaped to freedom in Illinois, where he found work as a laborer and began to save money to purchase the freedom of his family members still enslaved in Kentucky. Once he had saved enough money, Thomas purchased the freedom of his mother, wife, and children, and they joined him in Illinois. However, the challenges did not end there. As an African American man in a predominantly white community, Thomas faced discrimination and racism at every turn. He was denied jobs, housing, and other basic necessities because of the color of his skin.

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