The Texas Senate has a complex history when it comes to Black representation. In the years following the Civil War, during the Reconstruction Era, several African Americans served in the Texas Senate. For example, Matthew Gaines was the first African American to serve in the Texas Senate, representing District 19 in 1869.

However, following Reconstruction, the rise of Jim Crow laws and systemic racism led to a significant decrease in Black representation in the Texas Senate. It wasn't until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s that more African Americans began to be elected to office, including the Texas Senate.

In 1966, Barbara Jordan made history by becoming the first African American woman elected to the Texas Senate. She went on to achieve many more historic firsts, including becoming the first African American woman from the South to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Since then, there have been several African Americans who have served in the Texas Senate, making significant contributions to the state's legislative process and advocating for issues important to the Black community. Today, the Texas Senate continues to see diverse representation, including African American senators who are working to address issues of racial equity and justice.