Behold, the 21 Inspiring Black Women of Congress

Bonnie Watson Coleman is the representative for New Jersey's 12th congressional district, a position she has held since 2015. Prior to that, the 72-year-old Democrat was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly for several years and even served as the majority leader.

Coleman is New Jersey's first black woman in Congress. She has used her position to help former inmates reenter society and seek employment. The issue hits close to home, as her two sons spent five years in jail after they held up a local Kids "R" Us in 2011.