Who was the first African American in space?

Guion S. Bluford Jr. became the first African American to fly in space during the space shuttle Challenger mission STS-8, which took place from August 30 to September 5, 1983. He returned to space again in 1985 aboard Challenger mission STA-61-A/Spacelab D1. Mae C. Jemison became the first African American woman in space on September 12, 1992, when she flew aboard the space shuttle Endeavour mission Spacelab-J.