AboutWomen of the CBC
African American Women in Congress: The Legacy
In 1969, Shirley Chisholm became the first African American woman to serve in Congress after being elected to represent New York's 12th district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Chisholm was also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. Her tireless pursuit of equality, civil rights and social justice laid the groundwork for the women who would serve alongside her and for those who would follow in her footsteps. Four years later, Barbara Jordan became the first African American representative of Texas and the first Black woman to represent a southern state in Congress. Jordan went on to become an outspoken leader for the Democratic party.
There were fourteen Black Congresswomen by the time the 110th Congress convened in January 2007. As a result of their hard work and dedication over the past four decades, some of these women have now gained enough seniority to chair committees and subcommittees, and are among the Democratic party leadership. Committee chairs include the late Juanita Millender-McDonald, who led the Committee on House Administration, and Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio. Maxine Waters has been the Democratic party's Chief Deputy Whip since 1999, and Barbara Lee is currently a Senior Democratic Whip. Women have also led the Congressional Black Caucus. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, of Michigan, serves as chair for the 110th Congress. Barbara Lee and Sheila Jackson Lee also hold leadership positions. Past Caucus Chairwomen include Yvonne Brathwaite Burke (1976), Cardiss Collins (1979–1980), Maxine Waters (1997–1998) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (2001–2002).
Despite these gains, only 25 of the 242 women elected or appointed to Congress have been African American. Only one, Carol Moseley-Braun, has served in the Senate. Moseley-Braun was elected Senator of Illinois in 1992 and served one term as the first Black Democrat elected to the upper chamber. She is one of only three African Americans to serve in the Senate during the 20th century. Illinois representative Cardiss Collins, who won a special election to succeed her late husband, George Collins, was the longest serving Black Congresswoman, having served 23 years.
The following list gives the year that each Congresswoman was first elected to Congress.
1968: Shirley Chisholm (D-NY)
1972: Yvonne Brathwaite Burke (D-CA), Barbara Jordan (D-TX)
1973: Cardiss Collins (D-IL)
1982: Katie Hall (D-IN)
1990: Barbara-Rose Collins (D-MI), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC)
1992: Corrine Brown (D-FL), Eva Clayton (D-NC), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), Carrie Meek (D-FL), Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL-U.S. Senate)
1994: Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)
1996: Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI), Julia Carson (D-IN), Donna Christian-Christensen (D-VI)
1998: Barbara Lee (D-CA), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH)
2001: Diane Watson (D-CA)
2002: Denise Majette (D-GA)
2004: Gwen Moore (D-WI)
2006: Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
