My father always used to say, “It could be better, but it could be worse.”  And that analysis is so apropos for the African-Americans in the upcoming 113th US Congress.  African-Americans make up 13% of the population but 9.6% of the Congress.

It could be better, a whole lot better if you’re looking at the Senate.  There are zero African-Americans in the United States Senate.  In our entire history there have been only five elected, and one appointed, for a total of six. There are many theories as to why African Americans have not gotten into the upper chambers.

It could be worse, a lot worse.  There is a record number 44 African-American members of the House of Representatives up from 42 in the 113th Congress.  As for power in a majority Republican House, the African-American House members who are majority Democratic lost three full committee chairmanships and over a dozen  sub-committee chairmanships. So to sum it up, if you’re looking at the Senate, it is dismal and downright depressing with zero. But, if you’re looking at the Congress as a whole, we’re making progress as a nation.  No matter how you look at it there’s still more work to do to achieve equality.

Sources:

http://mobile.nationaljournal.com/thenextamerica/politics/political-winners-include-women-immigrants-20121108

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/11/13/1175491/113th-congress-diversity/?mobile=nc

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=113th+congress+&view=detail&id=97803655535D3084658B7BDA958B6A1DEBBA34DA

http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=131094.0

http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/influencealley/2012/11/5-milestones-in-congressional-demographics-09