Out of 79 members of Congress the United States Congress that are women, 16 are of African descent. With the projected addition of 5 more black women for 2015, Congress will officially have the highest number of black women members ever.

The projected members are as follows (via politic365).

1. (NJ-12) — Bonnie Watson Coleman is expected to win the seat of retiring Congressman Rush Holt in New Jersey.
2. (NC-12) — In North Carolina, State Rep. Alma Adams is sure to win Mel Watt’s old seat.
3. (VI) — Del. Donna Christensen will be the next Governor of the Virgin Islands and attorney Stacey Plaskett is expected to win.
4. (MI-14) –In Michigan, Mayor Brenda Lawrence will win the seat of Rep. Gary Peters who is running for Senate*.
5. (UT-4) — In Utah, Republican Mia Love should win the seat of retiring Blue Dog Rep. Jim Matheson.

The first black woman member of congress was Shirley Chisholm, who began serving in 1969.

Image credit:
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 17: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) (C) speaks about black judicial nominees while flanked by (L-R) Rep. Fredrica Wilson (D-FL), Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX), Rep. Maricia Fudge (D-OH), Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Karen Bass (D-CA) during a news conference on Capitol Hill July 17, 2013 in Washington, DC. The members of the Congressional Black Caucus say that Republican Senators are holding up the confirmation of several African American judicial nominees. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)