The U.S. House of Representatives has a long and complex history when it comes to Black representation. The first Black person elected to the House of Representatives was Joseph Rainey, who was a Republican from South Carolina and served from 1870 to 1879 during the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War.

Since then, there have been many significant Black leaders who have served in the House of Representatives, including iconic figures like Shirley Chisholm, who was the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968, and Barbara Jordan, who was the first Southern Black woman elected to the House in 1972.

Over the years, Black members of the House of Representatives have played key roles in shaping legislation on civil rights, voting rights, education, healthcare, and many other important issues affecting the Black community and the nation as a whole. Today, there are a record number of Black members serving in the House, continuing the legacy of advocacy and representation for African Americans in the U.S. government.