September 30, 2007 - The 37th annual Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference took its rightful place at the D.C. Convention Center and other venues across the
city this past week to discuss issues and concerns facing the African American community, at large.
In the past year, several events have vastly affected the African American community economically, socially, politically,
and civically. Among them, Hurricane Katrina with its devastating after affects
on families, community, education, and youth.
More than 130,000 students aged 6-17 missed at least 25% of the 2005-2006 school year*.
For some students, evacuated and sent to live in other states, they were often met with ridicule, racism,
and discouragement – elements of a hostile learning environment.
Those, and other issues, were discussed at this year's legislative conference along with rising health care
costs, the role of the African American athlete, homeland security, the Iraq war, youth, The Jena Six, and more.
WJLA Channel 7 News anchor, Leon Harris led a Town Hall Meeting on the criminal justice system and its unfair treatment of African Americans and the system’s
aggressive attempt at incarcerating youth. Panelists included House
Representative Charles Rangel (NY); Marian Wright Edelman, President of the Children’s Defense Fund; and the
Honorable Danny Davis (IL), to name a few.
Presidential candidate, Barack Obama helped panel a discussion on the issue of environmental racism.
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton addressed the CBC’s Emerging Leaders.
On its opening night, the wives of the CBC awarded pioneering music guru,
Quincy Jones and artists Faith Ringgold and Eugene Grigsby for their outstanding achievements in the Fine Arts with the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses’ Celebration
of Leadership Award. The awards ceremony was held at the National Museum of Women in the
Arts and saw the likes of several Congresspersons along with R&B singer, James Ingram.
Awarded the CBC’s prestigious Phoenix Award, the organization’s highest award which recognizes individual contribution
to society and the indelible immortality of the human spirit, were U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and Rutgers University women's basketball coach Vivian Stringer, and team members.
The Congressional Black Caucus, starting in 1971 with
just nine members of Congress, now boasts forty-three members with James E. Clyburn serving as House Majority Whip, the third
most prestigious congressional post, behind the Majority Leader and the President Pro Tempore.
The annual CBC-ALC is a wonderful involvement of community, businesses, youth, clergy, and government in a show of monumental
effort to face, head-on, the challenges affecting our communities.
This year’s theme Unleashing Our Power is an exact testament to the strength and power of those who fought
the same fight in the 1960s to correct the ills of our society.
Through the unleashing of a collective, unified, and relentless power begins
the process of change that's so desperately needed today.
*Post Katrina Source: Education after Katrina: Time For A New Federal Response
