Welcome to Axios Today. I'm Nyla Budu. We're here on a Saturday to bring you the fourth episode in our hard-truth series, a year-long project examining systemic racism in America.

Today, we're talking about power and influence in politics, who has it, and what it takes to get it. And we're doing that by having you listen in on a conversation between a veteran and freshman congressman.

South Carolina representative James Clyburn has been in the halls of Congress for almost three decades.

I was elected in 1992 at a time when no African-American had been elected from South Carolina in 95 years.

And New York representative Mondair Jones is in his first few months in office, part of the progressive 2020 blue wave.

Most people discounted my ability to even win, having never held elected office, not coming from money.

These two black men are part of the 117th Congress, now the most racially and ethnically diverse in American history.

It continues a recent trend. This Congress is the sixth in a row to break the diversity records set by the one before it.

But the hard truth is getting elected to Congress is rife with obstacles that make it harder for people of color to run and win office.

Congressman James Clyburn represents South Carolina's sixth district. It was established after the 1990 census, when the Justice Department used the Voting Rights Act to force states with the history of racial discrimination to create new districts.

Here's Representative Clyburn days after his win back in 1992.

What we are tempted to do now is trying to draw lines that will be inclusive.

Those inclusive lines made black votes more important than ever. Here's one example from the 2020 election.

I want the public to know that I'm voting for Joe Biden. South Carolina should be voting for Joe Biden.

Clyburn's support of Joe Biden before he won the South Carolina primary was pivotal to the presidential race.

So that's why we wanted to talk to Clyburn about what power means to him.

But we also wanted to hear him talk to someone who's just starting out in Congress, similarly as the first black representative from their district.

But today I come before you as a black man in America.

Before you as someone from home policy is personal.

Congressman Mondair Jones is the youngest member of Democratic leadership after he was elected by his peers to represent the freshman class.

He's also one of the first openly gay black men in Congress.

How often do you get a chance to listen to a candid conversation between two key Democratic lawmakers?

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