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The Congressional Black Caucus (or CBC) is a congressional caucus consisting of African-American members of the U.S. Congress.

Contents 1 History 2 Mission 3 Leadership 4 Articles and Resources 5 Contact Details

History

The CBC was formed in 1969 when the 13 African-American members of the U.S. House of Representatives joined to strengthen their efforts in addressing the legislative concerns of black and minority citizens. The original founders believed that an African-American caucus in Congress, speaking with a single voice, would provide political influence and visibility far beyond their numbers. [1]

Mission

Since the formation of the CBC, the group's core mission has been to close (and, ultimately, eliminate) disparities that exist between African-Americans and white Americans in every aspect of life. In pursuing this goal, the CBC maintains that it "has no permanent friends and no permanent enemies, just permanent interests." During the 109th Congress, the CBC listed the following specific goals which it would pursue: [2]

• Closing the achievement and opporunity gaps in education.
• Assuring quality healthcare for every American.
• Focusing on employment and economic security, building wealth, business, and development.
• Ensuring justice for all.
• Guaranteeing retirement security for all Americans.
• Increasing equity in foreign policy. [3]

Quotes regarding the mission of the CBC from member, Rep. William Lacy Clay:

"We have racial policies to pursue and we are pursuing them"

"Primarily, we are concerned with the needs and concerns of the black population, and we will not allow white America to infringe on those objectives."

Leadership

During the 109th Congress, the leadership of the CBC consisted of the following members of Congress. [4]

• Rep. Melvin L. Watt (D-N.C.), Chair
• Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), Vice-Chair
• Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), Second Vice-Chair
• Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.), Secretary
• Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Whip

Other members of the CBC included:

• Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.)
• Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.)
• Rep. Julia Carson (D-Ind.)
• Rep. Donna Christian-Christensen (D-V.I.)
• Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.)
• Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.)
• Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.)
• Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Founding member
• Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.)
• Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.)
• Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.)
• Rep. Harold Ford (D-Tenn.)
• Rep. Al Green (D-Texas)
• Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla.)
• Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.)
• Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas)
• Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.)
• Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas)
• Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio)
• Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.)
• Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.)
• Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.)
• Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.)
• Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-Calif.)
• Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.)
• Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.)
• Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.)
• Rep. Major R. Owens (D-N.Y.)
• Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-N.J.)
• Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.), Founding member
• Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.)
• Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.)
• Rep. Robert C. Scott (D-Va.)
• Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.)
• Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.)
• Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.)
• Rep. Diane E. Watson (D-Calif.)
• Rep. Melvin L. Watt (D-N.C.)
• Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.)

[5]

Articles and Resources

• Official site of the Congressional Black Caucus
• Tech Experts During the 38th Annual Legislative Conference

Contact Details

2236 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
phone: 202-226-9776
fax: 202-225-1512