James E. Clyburn (born July 21, 1940) is an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives for the 6th District of South Carolina (map). Clyburn is the first African American to serve as House Democratic Caucus Chairman. Clyburn was born in Sumter, South Carolina, the son of Enos Lloyd Clyburn and his wife Almeta, and worked in education before joining the staff of Governor John West in 1971. He continued to work in politics, becoming the state's human affairs commissioner in 1974, a position in which he held until 1992, when he was elected to Congress as a Democrat in South Carolina. During the 2004 Democratic presidential primaries, Clyburn supported Dick Gephardt until he dropped out of the race and afterwards supported John Kerry. Clyburn is generally considered to be the most important African-American political leader in his home state.
He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
