CRS report via FAS: African American Members of the United States Congress: 1870-2018. Ida A. Brudnick, Specialist on the Congress; Jennifer E. Manning, Information Research Specialist. April 26, 2018.

“In total, 153 African Americans have served in Congress. This total includes

• 143 African Americans (137 Representatives and 6 Delegates) elected only to the House of Representatives;
• 9 African Americans elected or appointed only to the Senate;
• and1 African American who has served in both chambers.

The first African American Members, Senator Hiram Revels of Mississippi and Representative Joseph Rainey of South Carolina, both took the oath of office in 1870. These first two Members were among the 22 African American Members (2 in the Senate, 20 in the House) that began their service in the period of time after the Civil War but prior to the start of the 20th Century. After these first 22, the presence of African Americans in the Membership of Congress was not continuous and therewere subsequent periods in both chambers with no African American Members.”