He had previously served as a [[Democrat]] in the [[U.S. Senate]] from 1926–1937, representing the State of [[Alabama]]. Black built his winning Senate campaign around multiple appearances at KKK meetings. Before his political career he was a member of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] in the 1920s. In 1921 Black successfully defended E. R. Stephenson in his trial for the murder of a [[Catholic]] [[priest]], Fr. James E. Coyle. | He had previously served as a [[Democrat]] in the [[U.S. Senate]] from 1926–1937, representing the State of [[Alabama]]. Black built his winning Senate campaign around multiple appearances at KKK meetings. Before his political career he was a member of the [[Ku Klux Klan]] in the 1920s. In 1921 Black successfully defended E. R. Stephenson in his trial for the murder of a [[Catholic]] [[priest]], Fr. James E. Coyle. |