Shirley A. Chisholm (November 30, 1924 – January 1, 2005)
Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman elected to Congress. Chisholm served as a representative from New York from 1968-1982 (91st-97th Congresses). She was also the first black woman to run for the presidency in 1972. Chisholm served on the Education and Labor, Rules, and Veterans Affairs committees.
Read more about Shirley A. Chisholm at the Library of Congress.

William L. Clay, Sr. (April 30, 1931 - )
William L. Clay, Sr. was the first black American to represent Missouri. Clay served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1969 to 2000 (91st-106th Congresses). He was the ranking member on the Education and Workforce committee and served as Chair of the Post Office and Civil Service Committee during the 102nd and 103rd Congresses. Clay also served on the Education and Labor, Education and Economic Opportunities, House Administration, and Joint Library committees.
Read more about William L. Clay, Sr. at the Library of Congress.

George W. Collins (March 5, 1925 – December 8, 1972)
George W. Collins was member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois and served as a representative from 1970-1972 (91st-93rd Congresses). Prior to his untimely death in 1972, Collins served on the Government Operations and Public Works committees.
Read more about George W. Collins at the Library of Congress.

John Conyers, Jr. (May 16, 1929 - )
John Conyers, Jr. has represented Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1965 (89th Congress – present). Conyers served as Chair of the Government Operations Committee during the 101st-103rd Congresses. He is also the ranking member of the Judiciary and Small Business committees.
Read more on John Conyers' Web site.

Ronald V. Dellums (November 24, 1935 - )
Ronald V. Dellums represented California in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1970-1998 (92nd-105th Congresses). Dellums served the Armed Services committee and was Chair during the 103rd Congress. In December of 1988, he was elected Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Dellums was the principal congressional leader in the effort to curb and reverse military spending and the nuclear arms race, and a leader in the effort to terminate U.S. government support for the racist regime in South Africa.
Read more about Ronald V. Dellums at the Library of Congress.

Charles C. Diggs, Jr. (December 2, 1922 – August 24, 1998)
Charles C. Diggs was the first black American to represent Michigan. He served from 1955-1980 (84th-96th Congresses). Diggs was the first Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from 1971-1972. During the 93rd-95th Congresses, he served as Chair to the committee on the District of Columbia.
Read more about Charles C. Diggs, Jr. at the Library of Congress.

Augustus F. Hawkins (August 31, 1907 - )
Augustus F. Hawkins was the first black American to represent California. Hawkins served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1963-1991 (88th -101st Congresses). He authored more than 300 state and federal laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act establishing the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Job Training Partnership Act, and the School Improvement Act. The congressman also sponsored the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act. Hawkins was Chair to several committees, including Education and Labor, House Administration, Committee on the Library and Committee on Printing.
Read more about Augustus F. Hawkins at the Library of Congress.

Ralph H. Metcalfe (May 30, 1910 – October 10, 1978)
Ralph H. Metcalfe represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1971 until his death in 1978 (92nd-95th Congresses). Metcalfe served on the Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Merchant Marines and Fisheries, and Post Office and Civil Service committees.

Parren J. Mitchell (April 29, 1922 - )
Parren J. Mitchell served as a representative of Maryland in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1971-1987 (92nd -99th Congresses). Mitchell served as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus during the 95th Congress (1977-1978). He served on several committees, including the Banking and Currency, Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, Budget, Joint Defense Production, Joint Economic, and House Budget committees. Mitchell also served as Chair of the Small Business Committee during the 97th-99th Congress.
Read more about Parren J. Mitchell at the Library of Congress.

Robert N.C. Nix, Sr. (August 9, 1905 – June 22, 1987)
Robert N.C. Nix, Sr. served as the first black American to represent Pennsylvania. Nix served the U.S. House of Representatives from 1958-1979 (85th-95th Congresses). He served on several committees, including the Crime, Select Standards and Conduct, Merchant Marines and Fisheries, Foreign Affairs, International Relations, and Veterans Affairs committees. Nix also served as Chair of the Post Office and Civil Service Committee during the 95th Congress.  
Read more about Robert N.C. Nix, Sr. at the Library of Congress.

Charles B. Rangel (June 11, 1930 - )
Charles B. Rangel has represented New York in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1971 (92nd Congress-present). Rangel served as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus during the 94th Congress. He served on several committees, including the Judiciary, Public Works, Science and Aeronautics, Ways and Means, Select Crime, Joint Taxation, and District of Columbia Committees. During the 98th-102nd Congresses, Rangel was Chair of the Select Narcotics Abuse and Control Committee.
Read more at Charles B. Rangel's Web site.
Read more about Charles B. Rangel at the Library of Congress.

Louis Stokes (February 23, 1925 - )
Louis Stokes served as the first black American to represent Ohio from 1969-1999 (91st-105th Congresses). Stokes served as the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus during the 92nd and 93rd Congresses. He served on several committees, including Education and Labor, Internal Security, Appropriations, Budget, Standards of Official Conduct, Select Intelligence, and Select to Investigate Arms Transactions to Iran. Stokes also served as Chair for the Standard of Official Conduct during the 97th, 98th and 102nd Congresses and the Select Assassinations Committee during the 95th Congress.
Read more about Louis Stokes at the Library of Congress.

Walter E. Fauntroy (February 6, 1933 - )
Walter E. Fauntroy served as a representative of the District of Columbia for the 92nd Congress when Washington D.C. was able to elect its own delegate. Fauntroy served from 1971-1991 (92nd-101st Congresses). He was Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus during the 97th Congress. Fauntroy served on the Banking and Currency, Banking Currency and Housing, Banking Finance and Urban Affairs, Select Assassinations, and Select Narcotics Abuse and Control committees.
Read more about Walter E. Fauntroy at the Library of Congress.