NPR Political Editor Ken Rudin answers your questions. This week: African-American women in Congress, and a look at Democratic contenders for the White House in 2008.

There were no African American members until the 41st Congress (1869-1871), when preacher Hiram Rhodes Revels was elected to represent Mississippi in the U.S. Senate in 1870.

Of the 98 women in Congress, only 14 are African American women. Former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (D-IL), an African American who served from 1993 to 1999, ...

Among the candidates are four African-American women who are likely to be new additions to the U.S. House: Democrats Brenda Lawrence of Michigan, Alma Adams of North Carolina, and Stacey Plaskett ...

Matt Wasniewski presented a history of African Americans who have served in Congress, using images from the Web site, "Black Americans in Congress." ... Women in Congress, Part 1.

On Wednesday in Washington D.C., Carla Hayden became the first woman and the first African-American to be sworn in as the Librarian of Congress. She's facing a huge change in how we interact with ...

The percentage of House seats won by African American candidates in 2012 -- a number that has risen in every post-redistricting election since 1922: 9.8 percent.

In this Women’s History Month feature, host Tezlyn Figaro honors #ShirleyChisholm, who made history on January 21, 1969, as the first African-American woman elected to #Congress. Representing # ...

Hayden becomes the first woman to hold the position, which dates back to the origin of the nation, and the first African-American in the role. She is one of only 14 people to ever hold the position.

House of Representatives historian Matthew Wasniewski and House curator Farar Elliott talked the history of African Americans who served in Congress during the late 19th century.

WASHINGTON —Pomp, circumstance, and policy converged when the 116 th Congress convened in the nation’s capital, ushering historic numbers of women, African Americans and people of color into ...

Carla Hayden, the first African-American and first woman to hold the position, was sworn in as the Library of Congress’ Librarian on Wednesday by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.