With her mother a librarian and the first black woman elected to the Selma City Council, and her father the basketball coach at Selma High School for 30 years, Sewell learned about the importance of education. She became the first black valedictorian of Selma High School, and like her mother, she found ways to break more barriers as she excelled in life.

Distinguished Student and Attorney

While at Princeton University and a leader in student government, Sewell spearheaded the school's efforts to open a minority-recruitment office. She also had summer jobs working for Alabama's congressmen in Washington, D.C. After graduating with honors, Sewell was featured on NBC's Today Show as one of the "Top Collegian Women" and was chosen as one of the "Top 10 College Women in America" by Glamour Magazine. She went on to receive a master's degree with honors from Oxford University. At age 25, she published her thesis on the first black members of British parliament into the book "Black Tribunes: Race and Representation in British Politics."

Sewell continued her education at Harvard University, receiving a law degree in 1992. She served as law clerk for U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon in Birmingham, Ala., before she moved to New York City to join the law firm Davis, Polk and Wardwell.

While honing her skills as a securities attorney, Sewell also was active in the city. She provided free legal services to the homeless, served as a mentor for high-school minority girls and worked for a non-profit organization, the Alumni Advisory Board of Sponsors of Educational Opportunity, that provided education, training and Wall Street internships for minorities.

"My life is a testament to what can happen to a person when provided with resources and opportunities. I want people to see that if you work hard in Alabama, you can live the American dream," she said.

In 2004, Sewell returned to Birmingham as the first black partner in the law firm Maynard, Cooper and Gale, P.C., with the intent of representing local governments and public schools that needed help to finance projects. The bond attorney saw the opportunity to help more people if elected to Congress.

"As an economic development attorney, I understand how to finance the construction of roads, bridges, schools and other capital projects that will create jobs and attract industries into our community," she said.

2010 House Race

Sewell was unknown in Alabama politics when she jumped into the open House race. She reached out to her friends in legal and business circles across the country, raising enough cash to fund a glossy, high-tech campaign. She had the credentials to back up her hype and won major endorsements from EMILY's List, which funds women candidates who support abortion rights, the National Organization for Women and Lilly Ledbetter, who championed a Fair Pay Equity Act. Sewell emphasized her strong Democratic beliefs and support of President Obama. Rep. Davis was a centrist Democrat and the only member of the Congressional Black Caucus to vote against Obama's health-care plan.

Sewell received more votes than the three candidates in the Democratic primary and secured the nomination following a runoff with Jefferson County Commissioner Shelia Smoot. Sewell was heavily favored to win the seat in the majority-black district that was created after the 1990 Census. Earl Hilliard won the seat in 1992 and became the state's first black congressman since Reconstruction. Davis seized the seat from him in 2002.

If elected, Sewell would become the first black congresswoman in Alabama. A Republican has not held the seat in 45 years.

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