The first black Senator was Hiram Revels of Mississippi, who took his seat 23 Feb. 1870. The first black Representative was Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina who took his seat on 12 Dec. 1870.
In addition to Revels, Blanche K. Bruce, also of Mississippi, served in the Senate from 1875-1881. There were a total of 20 blacks elected to the House from southern States between 1870 and 1901; 8 from South Carolina, 4 from North Carolina, 3 from Alabama, and 1 each from Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Virgina.
Also, between 1867 and 1877 there was 1 black governor, 6 lieutenant governors, 112 state senators and 683 state representatives. Among other state cabinet officials were South Carolina treasurer, Florida Secretary of State, and Mississippi Speaker of the House.
[sources: “Congress”, Alan L. Dimon, American Heritage, Oct. 1974, p. 90; “Reconstruction After the Civil War”, John Hope Franklin, Univ. of Chicago Press, 1961, pp. 88, 136-139; “Black Voices from Reconstruction 1865-1877” John David Smith, Millbrook Press, 1996, pp 103-107]