Born: August 16, 1947, Chicago, IL

Education: University of Illinois, Chicago, B.A., 1967; University of Chicago Law School, 1972

Moseley-Braun was the first black female elected to the US Senate. Her journey to it began when Illinois’ incumbent Democratic senator voted aye to confirm Judge Clarence Thomas, accused of sexual harassment, as associate justice of the Supreme Court. Outraged feminists, blacks, and liberals urged her, “a rising star in Democratic circles,” to challenge his reelection bid. Running an underfunded campaign but garnering the vast majority of blacks and women's votes, she won the primary and election (1992).

Some political observers labeled Moseley-Braun a “symbolic senator.” Her campaign, following an investigation, faced a misconduct charge. She also received harsh criticism from Democrats for her trip to Nigeria, whose military president had been censured for human rights violations. Blacks were upset by Moseley-Braun's support for prosecuting teen offenders as adults and her refusal to endorse a black candidate for Chicago mayor. Still, she earned wide respect. For example, many liberal and progressive activists praised her speech opposing a Senate bill to renew the flag label of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. “This vote is about race ... and the single most painful episode in American history,” she said (Smith, 1992–2003, p. 484). She served as the US Ambassador to New Zealand (1999–2001).