Congressional Black Caucus 412662 224596723 2008-07-09T16:10:34Z 68.197.41.36 /* Members of the Caucus during the 110th Congress */ [[Image:Congressional Black Caucus Foundation headquarters.JPG|thumb|right|Congressional Black Caucus headquarters in [[Washington, D.C.]]]] The '''Congressional Black Caucus''' is an organization representing the [[African American]] members of the [[Congress of the United States]]. Membership is exclusive to African Americans<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0107/2389.html| title= Black Caucus: Whites Not Allowed| first= Josephine| last= Hearn| date=2007-01-23| accessdate=2007-01-23| publisher=Politico.com}}</ref> and its chair in the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]] is Representative [[Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick]] of [[Michigan]]. ==History== ===Founding=== The [[Caucus]] was founded in 1971<ref>[http://www.cbcfinc.org/About/CBC/index.html Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> by a group of black members of the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]], including [[Shirley Chisholm]] of [[New York]], [[Louis Stokes]] of [[Ohio]] and [[Bill Clay|William L. Clay]] of [[Missouri]]. Black representatives had begun to enter the House in increasing numbers during the 1960s, and the formation of the Caucus reflected their desire for a formal organization. Originally a "Democratic Select Committee", which was formed in January 1969,<ref>[http://www.cbcfinc.org/About/CBC/index.html Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> it was named the Congressional Black Caucus in February 1971 on the motion of [[Charles B. Rangel]] of [[New York]]. Founding members were [[Shirley Chisholm]], [[Bill Clay|William L. Clay Sr.]], [[George W. Collins]], [[John Conyers]], [[Ron Dellums|Ronald Dellums]], [[Augustus F. Hawkins]], [[Ralph Metcalfe]], [[Parren Mitchell]], [[Robert Nix]], [[Charles Rangel]], [[Louis Stokes]], and [[Washington D.C.]] Delegate [[Walter E. Fauntroy|Walter Fauntroy]]. The first chairman Charles Diggs, from 1969 to 1971, landed on the [[master list of Nixon political opponents]] for his chairmanship. ===Aims=== The Caucus describes its goals as "positively influencing the course of events pertinent to African-Americans and others of similar experience and situation," and "achieving greater equity for persons of African descent in the design and content of domestic and international programs and services." The CBC encapsulates these goals in the following priorities: Closing the achievement and opportunity gaps in education, assuring quality health care for every American, focusing on employment and economic security, ensuring justice for all, retirement security for all Americans, and increasing equity in foreign policy.<ref>[http://www.house.gov/watt/cbc/cbcpriorities.htm Priorities detailed]</ref> Representative [[Eddie Bernice Johnson]], D-Tx., has said: <blockquote>"The Congressional Black Caucus is one of the world's most esteemed bodies, with a history of positive activism unparalleled in our nation's history. Whether the issue is popular or unpopular, simple or complex, the CBC has fought for thirty years to protect the fundamentals of democracy. Its impact is recognized throughout the world. The Congressional Black Caucus is probably the closest group of legislators on the Hill. We work together almost incessantly, we are friends and, more importantly, a family of freedom fighters. Our diversity makes us stronger, and the expertise of all of our members has helped us be effective beyond our numbers."</blockquote> ===Membership=== [[Image:Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, official 109th Congress photo.jpg|thumb|right|Chair, [[Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick]]]] The Caucus is officially non-partisan, but in practice it has been closely identified with the Democratic Party, and tends to function as a lobbying group within the wider Democratic Party. Only four black [[United States Republican Party|Republicans]] have been elected to Congress since the Caucus was founded: Senator [[Edward W. Brooke]] of [[Massachusetts]], Representative [[Gary Franks]] of [[Connecticut]], Delegate [[Melvin H. Evans]] of the [[United States Virgin Islands|U.S. Virgin Islands]], and Representative [[J. C. Watts]] of [[Oklahoma]], who became the first black member of Congress elected not to join the group because of its closely Democratic affiliation and goals.<ref name="cnnminorities">{{cite news |first=Carroll J. |last=Doherty |title= GOP Initiatives Hamper Efforts To Reach Out To Minority Groups |url= http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/03/24/cq/racial.html?eref=sitesearch|publisher=[[CNN]] |date=[[March 22]], [[1998]] |accessdate=2007-07-22 }}</ref> Representative Watts said of his refusal to join the caucus, "...they said that I had sold out and [[Uncle Tom]]. And I said well, they deserve to have that view. But I have my thoughts. And I think they're race-hustling poverty pimps." White members of Congress have never been welcomed into the caucus (see White Membership below). The Caucus has grown steadily as more black members have been elected. In [[1969]] the Caucus had nine members. As of [[2008]] it had 43 members, including two who are non-voting members of the House, representing the [[District of Columbia]] and the [[United States Virgin Islands|U.S. Virgin Islands]]. Currently, [[Illinois]] Senator [[Barack Obama]] is the only black member of the [[U.S. Senate]]. ===Threats to cut funding=== In late [[1994]], after [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] attained a majority in the House, they announced plans to rescind funding for 28 "legislative service organizations" which received taxpayer funding and occupied offices at the Capitol, including the CBC. Then-chairman [[Kweisi Mfume]] protested the decision, which never went through.<ref name="endfunding1995">{{cite news |title= G.O.P. to Cut Caucus Funds|url= |publisher=''Time Magazine'' |date=[[December 19]], [[1994]] |accessdate=2007-07-22 }}</ref> {{POV-section|date=April 2008}} ===White membership=== {{POV-section|date=April 2008}} Over the years, the question has arisen, "Does the Caucus allow only black members?" [[Pete Stark]], D-Ca., who is [[White people|white]], tried and failed to join in [[1975]]. The Caucus does have dozens of honorary members who are white, Hispanic, and Jewish. Rep. Clay issued an official statement from his office: <blockquote>"Quite simply, Rep. Cohen will have to accept what the rest of the country will have to accept - there has been an unofficial Congressional White Caucus for over 200 years, and now it's our turn to say who can join 'the club.' He does not, and cannot, meet the membership criteria, unless he can change his skin color. 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."<ref>[http://www.helium.com/debates/105009-us-elections-2008-is-barak-obamas-black-caucus-affiliation-compatible-with-his/side_by_side?page=1 US Elections 2008: Is Barak Obama's Black Caucus affiliation compatible with his campaign? ]</ref></blockquote> On [[January 25]], [[2007]], Representative [[Tom Tancredo]], R-Co., spoke out against the continued existence of the CBC as well as the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[Congressional Hispanic Caucus]], and the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Congressional Hispanic Conference]] saying, "It is utterly hypocritical for Congress to extol the virtues of a color-blind society while officially sanctioning caucuses that are based solely on race. If we are serious about achieving the goal of a colorblind society, Congress should lead by example and end these divisive, race-based caucuses."<ref> [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16812597/ Tancredo: Abolish black, Hispanic caucuses - Politics - MSNBC.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==Members of the Caucus during the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]]== {| class="wikitable" |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" |colspan="3" align=center|'''Senate''' |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" !Senator !! Party !! State |- | [[Barack Obama]] || [[Democratic Party (USA)|Democratic]] || [[Illinois]] |- |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" |colspan="3" align=center|'''House of Representatives''' |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" !Representative !! Party !! State - Congressional District |- | [[Sanford Bishop]] || Democratic || [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] - [[Georgia's 2nd congressional district|2nd]] |- | [[Corrine Brown]] || Democratic || [[Florida]] - [[Florida's 3rd congressional district|3rd]] |- | [[G. K. Butterfield]] || Democratic || [[North Carolina]] - [[North Carolina's 1st congressional district|1st]] |- | [[Julia Carson]] || Democratic || [[Indiana]] - [[Indiana's 7th congressional district|7th]] |- | Delegate [[Donna Christian-Christensen]] || Democratic || [[U.S. Virgin Islands]] - [[U.S. Virgin Islands's At-large congressional district|At-large]] <br> (non voting congressional delegate) |- | [[Yvette D. Clarke|Yvette Clarke]] || Democratic || [[New York]] - [[New York's 11th congressional district|11th]] |- | [[William Lacy Clay, Jr.]] || Democratic || [[Missouri]] - [[Missouri's 1st congressional district|1st]] |- | [[Emanuel Cleaver]] - 2nd Vice Chair || Democratic || [[Missouri]] - [[Missouri's 5th congressional district|5th]] |- | [[Jim Clyburn]] || Democratic || [[South Carolina]] - [[South Carolina's 6th congressional district|6th]] |- | [[John Conyers, Jr.]] - ''Dean'' || Democratic || [[Michigan]] - [[Michigan's 14th congressional district|14th]] |- | [[Elijah Cummings]] || Democratic || [[Maryland]] - [[Maryland's 7th congressional district|7th]] |- | [[Artur Davis]] || Democratic || [[Alabama]] - [[Alabama's 7th congressional district|7th]] |- | [[Danny K. Davis]] - Secretary || Democratic || [[Illinois]] - [[Illinois' 7th congressional district|7th]] |- | [[Keith Ellison (politician)|Keith Ellison]] || Democratic || [[Minnesota]] - [[Minnesota's 5th congressional district|5th]] |- | [[Chaka Fattah]] || Democratic || [[Pennsylvania]] - [[Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district|2nd]] |- | [[Al Green (politician)|Al Green]] || Democratic || [[Texas]] - [[Texas's 9th congressional district|9th]] |- | [[Alcee Hastings]] || Democratic || [[Florida]] - [[Florida's 23rd congressional district|23rd]] |- | [[Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.]] || Democratic || [[Illinois]] - [[Illinois' 2nd congressional district|2nd]] |- | [[William J. Jefferson]] || Democratic || [[Louisiana]] - [[Louisiana's 2nd congressional district|2nd]] |- | [[Eddie Bernice Johnson]] || Democratic || [[Texas]] - [[Texas's 30th congressional district|30th]] |- | [[Hank Johnson]] || Democratic || [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] [[Georgia's 4th congressional district|4th]] |- | [[Stephanie Tubbs Jones]] || Democratic || [[Ohio]] - [[Ohio's 11th congressional district|11th]] |- | [[Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick]] - Chairwoman || Democratic || [[Michigan]] - [[Michigan's 13th congressional district|13th]] |- | [[Barbara Lee]] - 1st Vice Chair || Democratic || [[California]] - [[California's 9th congressional district|9th]] |- | [[Sheila Jackson Lee]] - Whip || Democratic || [[Texas]] - [[Texas's 18th congressional district|18th]] |- | [[John Lewis (politician)|John Lewis]] || Democratic || [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] - [[Georgia's 5th congressional district|5th]] |- | [[Kendrick Meek]] - ''Foundation Chairman'' || Democratic || [[Florida]] - [[Florida's 17th congressional district|17th]] |- | [[Gregory Meeks]] || Democratic || [[New York]] - [[New York's 6th congressional district|6th]] |- | [[Gwen Moore]] || Democratic || [[Wisconsin]] - [[Wisconsin's 4th congressional district|4th]] |- | Delegate [[Eleanor Holmes Norton]] || Democratic || [[District of Columbia]] - [[District of Columbia's At-large congressional district|At-large]] <br> (non voting congressional delegate) |- | [[Donald M. Payne]] || Democratic || [[New Jersey]] - [[New Jersey's 10th congressional district|10th]] |- | [[Charles B. Rangel]] || Democratic || [[New York]] - [[New York's 15th congressional district|15th]] |- | [[Laura Richardson]] || Democratic || [[California]] - [[California's 37th congressional district|37th]] |- | [[Bobby Rush]] || Democratic || [[Illinois]] - [[Illinois' 1st congressional district|1st]] |- | [[Robert C. Scott|Bobby Scott]] || Democratic || [[Virginia]] - [[Virginia's 3rd congressional district|3rd]] |- | [[David Scott (politician)|David Scott]] || Democratic || [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] - [[Georgia's 13th congressional district|13th]] |- | [[Bennie Thompson]] || Democratic || [[Mississippi]] - [[Mississippi's 2nd congressional district|2nd]] |- | [[Edolphus Towns]] || Democratic || [[New York]] - [[New York's 10th congressional district|10th]] |- | [[Maxine Waters]] || Democratic || [[California]] - [[California's 35th congressional district|35th]] |- | [[Diane Watson]] || Democratic || [[California]] - [[California's 33rd congressional district|33rd]] |- | [[Mel Watt]] || Democratic || [[North Carolina]] - [[North Carolina's 12th congressional district|12th]] |- | [[Donna Edwards]] || Democratic || [[Maryland]] - [[Maryland's 4th congressional district|4th]] |} ==See also== *[[Congressional caucus]] *[[African Americans in the United States Congress]] *[[Avoice: African American Voices in Congress]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.thecongressionalblackcaucus.com/ Congressional Black Caucus website] *[http://www.cbcinstitute.org/ Congressional Black Caucus Political Education & Leadership Institute] *[http://www.cbcfinc.org/ Congressional Black Caucus Foundation] *[http://www.avoiceonline.org/ Avoice: African American Voices in Congress (Congressional Black Caucus online archive)] *[http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/04/07/048238 Congressional Black Caucus Holds Hearings On Police Brutality in Los Angeles] *[http://www.counterpunch.org/mokhiber01132003.html Counterpunch Article: Corporate Black Caucus?] *[http://www.blackcommentator.com/136/136_cover_black_caucus.html Black Commentator: How to Fix the fractured Black Caucus] {{CBC Chairs}} {{USCongress}} [[Category:1969 establishments]] [[Category:African Americans in the United States Congress|']] [[Category:African American history]] [[Category:Caucuses of the United States Congress|Black Caucus]]