The Congressional Black Caucus

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Through the history of African Americans in America, few political moments were more important than the formation of the Congressional Black Caucus. The thirteen black members of the House of Representatives founded the CBC in 1969. Their goal was to establish a voice for African Americans who felt forgotten and downtrodden. One early goals of the Black Caucus was to end the Apartheid in South Africa. During the early years of the organization, there was strife internally and externally. After the Reconstruction of America, African Americans were without organization amongst their representation in Congress until the establishment of the Congressional Black Caucus. In 1969 Representative Charles C Diggs Jr. of Michigan, proposed the formation of a committee featuring the nine elected black members of congress. The goal of the committee, which was named the Democratic Select Committee, was to “seize the moment, to fight injustice, to raise issues too long ignored and too little debated.” Diggs proposal to congress stated that the legislators would fill a significant void by fostering the exchange of information between the black Representatives and House leadership. The Committee set out to alter the input and impact that African American interest would have on the floor of Congress. The original group consisted of Diggs, William Clay, Sr., of Missouri, Louis Stokes of Ohio, and Shirley Chisholm of New York among other of African American members of Congress. These members were the foundation of change in the voice African American’s in Congress. Although the DSC was an informal organization that originally lacked structure, it would serve as the roots of the Congressional Black Caucus. During the 92nd Congress on February... ... middle of paper ... ...President the list included a wide range of issues such as, “the eradication of racism, the earning of a decent living, equal access to the housing market, the federal government’s guarantee of health care for all citizens, fair and impartial justice, enforcement of civil rights through governmental affirmative action, a fair share of public funds to support community development, and full participation by blacks in government.” President Nixon stated that he had the same concerns but did not make a commitment to pursue the proposed issues. The meeting led the CBC to create a “Black Declaration of Independence” and “Black Bill of Rights” to counter the conservatism of the President. The conference confirmed the CBC as the prominent leadership for the African American community and gave the CBC the headlines that would serve as the national exposure the group craved.

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