Hiram Rhodes Revels (also known as Hiram R. Revels) was the first Black man to enter and serve in the United States Congress.He was sworn in as a U.S. Senator from Mississippi on February 25, 1870, becoming the first African American to serve in either chamber of Congress (Senate or House of Representatives). Revels, a Republican, filled an unexpired Senate term during the Reconstruction era after being selected by the Mississippi state legislature.Note that Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina became the first Black man to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives later that year (sworn in on December 12, 1870, after being directly elected), and he is often recognized as the first Black member of the House. However, Revels holds the distinction as the overall first Black member of Congress due to his earlier seating in the Senate.There was an earlier case in 1868 where John Willis Menard was elected to the House but was not seated after a credentials challenge, so he did not officially serve.This milestone occurred shortly after the ratification of the 15th Amendment, which prohibited denying the right to vote based on race. Revels served until March 1871 and later became the first president of Alcorn State University.