serve since Reconstruction. The other two were

The November 2010 midterm elections did a little more than bring in a new wave of Republicans under the Tea Party banner and removed Democratic incumbents from office. It also ushered in a new age reminiscent of the Senate after Reconstruction.

Unfortunately, what has also occurred is that the United States Senate will not have a single member who is African American.

All three black senatorial candidates, Kendrick Meek, D-Fla.; Alvin Greene, D-S.C.; and Mike Thurmond D-Ga., lost in November and the only one serving presently, Roland Burris, D-Ill.; is retiring after a scandal regarding how he obtained the seat.

"This is a matter of national importance.There are no African Americans in the Senate, and I don't think that anyone, any U.S. senator who's sittingrepresented at all — in the U.S. Senate, since it is almost 2011 and no African American serves within its halls

Obama's election may have been a major breakthrough for racial politics in America. But we still are very much underrepresented — if represented at all — in the U.S. Senate, since it is almost 2011 and no African American serves within its halls