History:
• In 1870, Hiram Rhodes Revels (R-MS) and Joseph H. Rainey (R-SC) became the first African Americans to serve in the House and Senate.
• Twenty-two Black lawmakers served in the House and Senate during Reconstruction, the two decades after the Civil War.
• From 1901 to 1928 no African Americans served in Congress.
• In 1949, Rep. William Levi Dawson became the first African American to lead a full committee when he assumed the leadership of the Government Operations Committee. Blacks have chaired committees ever since, when Democrats controlled the House of Representatives.
• 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.
• In 1971, the Congressional Black Caucus was founded during the 92nd Congress by Representatives Shirley A. Chisholm, William L. Clay, George W. Collins, John Conyers, Jr., Ronald V. Dellums, Charles C. Diggs, Jr., Augustus F. Hawkins, Ralph Metcalfe, Parren J. Mitchell, Robert N.C. Nix, Charles B. Rangel, Louis Stokes, and Washington D.C. delegate Walter E. Fauntroy.
• Only 27 of the more than 240 women elected or appointed to Congress have been African American. Only one, Carol Moseley-Braun, has served in the Senate.
• Since 1870, a total of 139 African Americans have served as U.S. Representatives or Senators.
• Twenty-two Black lawmakers served in the House and Senate during Reconstruction, the two decades after the Civil War.
• From 1901 to 1928 no African Americans served in Congress.
• In 1949, Rep. William Levi Dawson became the first African American to lead a full committee when he assumed the leadership of the Government Operations Committee. Blacks have chaired committees ever since, when Democrats controlled the House of Representatives.
• 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.
• In 1971, the Congressional Black Caucus was founded during the 92nd Congress by Representatives Shirley A. Chisholm, William L. Clay, George W. Collins, John Conyers, Jr., Ronald V. Dellums, Charles C. Diggs, Jr., Augustus F. Hawkins, Ralph Metcalfe, Parren J. Mitchell, Robert N.C. Nix, Charles B. Rangel, Louis Stokes, and Washington D.C. delegate Walter E. Fauntroy.
• Only 27 of the more than 240 women elected or appointed to Congress have been African American. Only one, Carol Moseley-Braun, has served in the Senate.
• Since 1870, a total of 139 African Americans have served as U.S. Representatives or Senators.
Mission:
Since its establishment in 1971, Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have joined together to empower America’s neglected citizens and to address their legislative concerns. For more than 40 years, the CBC has consistently been the voice for people of color and vulnerable communities in Congress and has been committed to utilizing the full Constitutional power, statutory authority, and financial resources of the Government of the United States of America to ensure that everyone in the United States has an opportunity to achieve their version of the American Dream.
The legislative agenda of universal empowerment that Members of the Congressional Black Caucus collectively pursue include but are not limited to: the creation of universal access to a world-class education from birth through post secondary level; the creation of universal access to quality, affordable health care and the elimination of racially based health disparities; the creation of universal access to
modern technology, capital and full, fairly-compensated employment; the creation and or expansion of U.S. foreign policy initiatives that will contribute to the survival, health, education and general welfare of all peoples of the world in a manner consistent with universal human dignity, tolerance and respect and such other legislative action as a majority of the entire CBC Membership may support.
The legislative agenda of universal empowerment that Members of the Congressional Black Caucus collectively pursue include but are not limited to: the creation of universal access to a world-class education from birth through post secondary level; the creation of universal access to quality, affordable health care and the elimination of racially based health disparities; the creation of universal access to
modern technology, capital and full, fairly-compensated employment; the creation and or expansion of U.S. foreign policy initiatives that will contribute to the survival, health, education and general welfare of all peoples of the world in a manner consistent with universal human dignity, tolerance and respect and such other legislative action as a majority of the entire CBC Membership may support.
