African-American Women in the US House

Twenty-five African-American women have been representatives in the US House.  Shirley Chisholm was the first in 1969.  Twelve of these women are currently serving.  In addition to the women representatives, Eleanor Holmes Norton  and Donna Christian Christensen are non-voting delegates in the US House representing Washington, DC and the US Virgin Islands.  All of these congresswomen have been Democrats.  Carol Moseley Braun is the only African American woman to have served in the US Senate.  She is also a Democrat. 

Click on the links for additional information on Latinas, women of Asian / Pacific Islander descent, and women in the US House in general.

Sources: Center for American Women in Politics, Rutgers University, Women in Congress, www.house.gov, Women in the US Congress report

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in Government and Democracy

Equal Representation –The Essence of Democracy                       Updated 2010-03-14