Black U.S. House members, 1965-2021
Number of U.S. representatives who are Black
| Date | Number of U.S. representatives who are Black |
|---|---|
| 1965 | 5 |
| 1967 | 5 |
| 1969 | 9 |
| 1971 | 13 |
| 1973 | 16 |
| 1975 | 16 |
| 1977 | 15 |
| 1979 | 15 |
| 1981 | 17 |
| 1983 | 20 |
| 1985 | 20 |
| 1987 | 22 |
| 1989 | 23 |
| 1991 | 26 |
| 1993 | 39 |
| 1995 | 39 |
| 1997 | 37 |
| 1999 | 37 |
| 2001 | 36 |
| 2003 | 37 |
| 2005 | 40 |
| 2007 | 40 |
| 2009 | 39 |
| 2011 | 42 |
| 2013 | 41 |
| 2015 | 44 |
| 2017 | 47 |
| 2019 | 53 |
| 2021 | 57 |
Note: Shows the number of Black representatives at the outset of each term of Congress. The data does not include nonvoting delegates or commissioners.
Source: The Brookings Institution’s “Vital Statistics on Congress” and U.S. House of Representatives Press Gallery
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
