6 African-American Women in U.S. Politics
During the 1930s, Mary McLeod Bethune organized the Federal Council of Negro Affairs. Also known as the "Black Cabinet," the group advised Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the Great Depression. Although the group was an informal advisory committee to Roosevelt, the work helped African-Americans gain services through federal agencies.
Since the 1960s, African-American women have served in various elected positions in United States government. While some women have been appointed to positions, some were elected to office serving in various committees.
When Barbara Jordan was elected to the Texas Senate in 1966, she became the first African-American to be elected to the Texas Senate since the Reconstruction. In addition, Jordan also became the first African-American woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
By 1972, Jordan was elected to represent Texas in the House of Representatives, becoming the first woman to hold such as position. As a representative, Jordan held a position on the House Judiciary Committee as well as the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
In 1976, Jordan made history again by delivering the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.
Educator and politician Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American woman elected to U.S. Congress. From 1969 to 1983, Chisholm represented New York's 12th Congressional District serving on the House Agricultural Committee and later, the Education and Labor Committee.
While serving in the U.S. Congress, Chisholm ran for President of the United States. By participating in the election, Chisholm became the first African-American to run in a majority-party and the first woman to run for the Democratic presidential nomination. At the 1972 Democratic National Convention, Chisholm received 152 ballot votes.
On January 3, 1993, Moseley Braun became the first African-American woman to serve as a U.S. Senator.
For seven years, Mosely Braun represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate. During her tenure, Moseley Braun campaigned for gun control and various education bills. After her term ended in 1999, Moseley Braun became the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, a position she held for three years.
Braun was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1978 and when she left the position in 1987, other representatives considered her "the conscience of the House." Following her position in the House of Representatives, Braun was elected to be the Recorder of Deeds in Cook County, Ill., a position she held until being elected to the U.S. Senate.
Patricia Roberts Harris was a lawyer, political activist and ambassador.
After earning a law degree from George Washington University in 1960, Harris worked for the U.S. Department of Justice for one year before deciding to serve as an associate dean and law professor at Howard University. In 1963 John F. Kennedy appointed Harris as co-chairperson of the National Women's Committee for Civil Rights.
The following year she served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and supported Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential campaign. Following Johnson's election, Harris was appointed as Ambassador to Luxemborg from 1965 to 1967.
During Jimmy Carter's presidency, Harris was the first African-American woman to serve in cabinet-level positions. In 1977, Harris served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and two years later, she served as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare.
Condeleeza Rice is a political scientist and diplomat who has served as the National Security Advisor during George W. Bush’s first presidential term. During Bush’s second term, Rice was appoint at the 66th United States Secretary of State. Rice was the first African-American woman to hold both position.
Prior to her presidential appointments, Rice was a political science professor at Stanford University. She served as the university’s Provost from 1993 to 1999. During George H.W. Bush’s presidency, Rice served on the National Security Council as the Soviet and Eastern Europe Affairs Advisor.
In 2009, Rice resumed her professorship at Stanford University as well as the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution.
The following year, Rice was appointed as the director of Stanford Graduate School of Business’ Global Center for Business and the Economy.
Since the 1960s, African-American women have served in various elected positions in United States government. While some women have been appointed to positions, some were elected to office serving in various committees.
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1. Barbara Jordan (1936 - 1996)
When Barbara Jordan was elected to the Texas Senate in 1966, she became the first African-American to be elected to the Texas Senate since the Reconstruction. In addition, Jordan also became the first African-American woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
By 1972, Jordan was elected to represent Texas in the House of Representatives, becoming the first woman to hold such as position. As a representative, Jordan held a position on the House Judiciary Committee as well as the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
In 1976, Jordan made history again by delivering the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.
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2. Shirley Chisholm (1924 - 2005)
Educator and politician Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American woman elected to U.S. Congress. From 1969 to 1983, Chisholm represented New York's 12th Congressional District serving on the House Agricultural Committee and later, the Education and Labor Committee.
While serving in the U.S. Congress, Chisholm ran for President of the United States. By participating in the election, Chisholm became the first African-American to run in a majority-party and the first woman to run for the Democratic presidential nomination. At the 1972 Democratic National Convention, Chisholm received 152 ballot votes.
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3. Carol Moseley Braun (1947 - )
On January 3, 1993, Moseley Braun became the first African-American woman to serve as a U.S. Senator.
For seven years, Mosely Braun represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate. During her tenure, Moseley Braun campaigned for gun control and various education bills. After her term ended in 1999, Moseley Braun became the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, a position she held for three years.
Braun was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1978 and when she left the position in 1987, other representatives considered her "the conscience of the House." Following her position in the House of Representatives, Braun was elected to be the Recorder of Deeds in Cook County, Ill., a position she held until being elected to the U.S. Senate.
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4. Patricia Roberts Harris (1924 - 1985)
Patricia Roberts Harris was a lawyer, political activist and ambassador.
After earning a law degree from George Washington University in 1960, Harris worked for the U.S. Department of Justice for one year before deciding to serve as an associate dean and law professor at Howard University. In 1963 John F. Kennedy appointed Harris as co-chairperson of the National Women's Committee for Civil Rights.
The following year she served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and supported Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential campaign. Following Johnson's election, Harris was appointed as Ambassador to Luxemborg from 1965 to 1967.
During Jimmy Carter's presidency, Harris was the first African-American woman to serve in cabinet-level positions. In 1977, Harris served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and two years later, she served as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare.
5. Condeleeza Rice (1954 - )
Condeleeza Rice is a political scientist and diplomat who has served as the National Security Advisor during George W. Bush’s first presidential term. During Bush’s second term, Rice was appoint at the 66th United States Secretary of State. Rice was the first African-American woman to hold both position.
Prior to her presidential appointments, Rice was a political science professor at Stanford University. She served as the university’s Provost from 1993 to 1999. During George H.W. Bush’s presidency, Rice served on the National Security Council as the Soviet and Eastern Europe Affairs Advisor.
In 2009, Rice resumed her professorship at Stanford University as well as the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution.
The following year, Rice was appointed as the director of Stanford Graduate School of Business’ Global Center for Business and the Economy.
6. Susan Rice (1964 - )
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