By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
Hello All:
For
the first time in two years the Congressional Black Caucus reconvened
their Annual Legislative Caucus Weekend in person, in Washington DC from
September 28 through October 1st at the Walter E. Washington Convention
Center. And I'm happy to say that I was there - mobility scooter and
all! This is the first time the Caucus was held so late in the year.
It's usually early to mid-September, as opposed to carrying over into
October - just scant weeks before the close of voter registration.
Most people are totally unaware of the Caucus and its importance to the constituents, so let me school you:
The
Congressional Black Caucus, or CBC, for short, brings together
businesses, community based organizations, charitable organizations
together to interface with our Black elected Congress members to plan
and coordinate policies, programs, legislation to benefit their largely
African American constituency - i.e., you/me/us - for the coming year.
The
Congressional Black Caucus was founded in 1971 by fourteen Black
Congressional members including Charlie Rangel (D. NY), John Conyers (D.
Michigan), Shirley Chisholm (D. NY), Ron Dellums (D. CA), Parren
Mitchell (D. MD), Robert N.C. Nix (D. PA), Walter Fauntroy (D. DC),
among others. They felt they would be more effective in working on
behalf of their constituents if they consolidated their efforts - and
they were absolutely correct.
At present, Congressmembers Charlie
Rangel, Walter Fauntroy, and William Lacy Clay are the three remaining
members still living. They are walking history of the transformation of
this august body from its fledgling days to their current status, where
their work is more essential than ever before - in a post-T-rump/post
January 6th, pre-apocalypse era.
Now, in their 51st
year, with 58 members, the CBC's mission is more important than ever.
They are often called the conscious of Congress - primarily because the
predominant tenor of Congress is to cater to majority constituents. The
Black Caucus - hence the Black congress members - have to go the extra
mile to ensure we, as citizens, get what we need and deserve as voters
and tax payers.
It's
been my privilege to cover the Congressional Black Caucus since 1985,
with the exception, of course, of the years they were shuttered because
of Covid. And so much has happened subsequent to the 2020 election,
it's even more imperative that we know, understand, respect and support
the work of the Caucus and those whom we have elected to represent us
in DC.
NOTE: {If
at times I come from my soap box - and you know I will - it's because I
feel the urgency to drive home the point that we cannot take anything
for granted, or belittle the role of the Caucus and its members. Just
like I will definitely not let us get off the hook in reference to our
responsibility to show up in a critical mass for this MIDTERM ELECTION -
because our very lives are at stake}.
Over
the course of three days, specialized workshops and roundtables covered
such issues as police brutality, education, health imperatives,
infrastructure, employment, violence and anti-violence measures, Africa
and the Diaspora, cultural programs, economic issues that face
constituents as inflation continues to rise; housing, home ownership and
community development. Hundreds of subject matter experts participated
in presenting programs, issues and goals as well as plans for the
future of Black Americans, while simultaneously trying to impress the
importance of what this upcoming Midterm election will portend if voters
don't get it right.
This
year's Chair, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, had her hands full trying to
bring the event back to its full glory and energy after such a long
hiatus. But, while there may have been some minor glitches, the joy of
being back together, face to face, in each other's company, more than
made up for it. For
the first time the CBC was a hybrid production, making it possible for
more constituents to watch from home and keep abreast of the various
workshops and special activities. I truly hope they took advantage of
the opportunity to do so.
I've
always maintained that the CBC was one of the few key events where you
could find the most intelligent, accomplished, purposeful Black people
on the planet. Where everyone dressed to impress, was congenial, civil,
and focused on "doing good works." It's the first time I've covered
the Caucus and the illustrious Civil Rights hero, John Lewis, was not
there, with his quiet, genteel presence - ever the activist - hosting
his widely popular Atlanta Reception.
There
was an undercurrent of tension throughout the event as the Midterms
come closer and closer. Will Rev. Raphael Warnock be able to retain his
seat as Senator from Georgia? This insidious
challenge of being pitted
against an insipid opponent in order to split the votes, and weaken the
strength Georgia showed during the 2020 election. One wonders what John
Lewis would have said/done under these circumstances: He probably
would have appropriately pointed out that Republicans are not concerned
about Walker's lack of character - they only want to get a majority -
they would sponsor a pig if they could as long as it gives them a
majority - they are banking on the lack of critical thinking skills on
the part of many Georgia voters who are only going on name recognition.
SMH
Does
the Black voting constituency realize how serious it is that they get out and
vote to return all their incumbents to office, while simultaneously
electing more Democrats so that the programs, policies and work begun
under the Biden administration can continue to benefit them and bear
even more fruit?
Can
the CBC galvanize their base even more so that Black voters "get it"
and turn out in mass numbers the way they did during the presidential
election? Have they finally understood how key these upcoming Midterm
elections are in terms of their own futures? This is a real nail biter.
With
so many workshops, roundtables and forums going on simultaneously, it's
impossible to cover them all. So I focused on two that are most in
line with my interest, and crucial to all: Affordable Housing
Roundtable, and the Roundtable on African Affairs.
During
the CBC Roundtable on Decent Affordable Housing, hosted by
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke
(D. NY), HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge outlined the programs they had
already
put in place to provide affordable, quality homes in areas hard
hit by neglect and dis-investment under the T-rump administration. New
York City, where housing costs are outrageously high, was a focal
point, as well as homes in rural and blighted areas. NYC Rents border
on an unconsciounable $3,000 a month - assuming the tenant
earns $100K a year. Sadly, most Black New Yorkers' salaries are $50,000
and below.
Panelists
addressed the practice of warehousing properties
that should be made available to families who desperately needed them;
funding for renovations in rural areas; expansion of quality homes for
seniors, as well as quality of Black communities that had been allowed
to decline, while white communities had been given preferential
treatment and services. Other concerns were down
playing the valuations of Black owned properties, while inflating their
in adjacent neighborhoods - even when it was clear that the Black owned
properties were far superior to those of their caucasian counterparts.
![]() |
After
the Affordable Housing Roundtable L-R HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge,
Zeta Phi Beta President, Dr. Stacie N.C. Grant, Congresswoman Yvette
Clarke |
![]() |
Jonathan Jackson - Son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson (L) |
![]() |
Vendor/Author at CBC whose book Embracing My Sexy Sixties was a big hit |
![]() |
NY State Assembly Woman Latrice M. Walker |
On
the other side of the Convention Center, African diplomats, businessmen
and women, emissaries, gathered together with African American (We are the 6th
Diaspora) panelists to focus on the future of African and African
American businesses, educators, activists, as leaders begin to wade
through the challenges they face in trying to develop an autonomous,
united continent of Africa. The question on most minds was the apparent
take over of African lands and businesses by Chinese predatory lenders,
while African businesses are having difficulties realizing profits in
their own countries; followed closely by why Africa is so dependent on
food sources from outside the continent, as opposed to producing their
own. Present was Mel Foote, chair/founder of Constituency For Africa,
made salient points about intra-African trade as opposed to depending on
outside (possibly contaminated) imports of substandard quality food
products, GMO seeds, etc.
After the Roundtable on Africa with Mel Foote - President, Founder & CEO of Constituency for Africa -
The highpoint of the Caucus Weekend is their Phoenix Awards Dinner, which took place on Saturday, October 1st under the theme “Advancing Our Purpose and Elevating Our
Power." The Phoenix Awards, which was co-hosted by Meagan Good and Omari Hardwick, honored
those who have distinguished themselves against the odds, and provided
excellent, outstanding service to their communities, including:
The great Opal Lee
- whose outstanding dedication to making JUNETEENTH a national holiday
by walking from Texas to Washington, DC to emphasize the importance of
the holiday to Black people.
Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS),
who has now become somewhat of a "rock star" for his presiding over the
select committee to investigate the events of January 6, 2021 when a
rabid mob attacked the Nation's Capitol under the urging and instigation
of T-rump. He is also the longest serving Black elected official in
the state of Mississippi. Congressman Thompson received the Democracy
Trailblazer Award.
The prolific and erudite author, public speaker, educator, activist Dr. Michael Eric Dyson - no stranger to most of us - received the much deserved CBC Chair's Phoenix Award.
Lisa D. Cook, advocate for gender and racial equity, is the first Black woman to serve on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.
Ruth Carter,
the fabulous costume designer who was nominated three times for her
wonderful costumes in the films Malcom X (1992) and Amistad (1997). She
won the award in 2018 for her design in the iconic BLACK PANTHER -
becoming the first African American to win an Academy Award in that
category.
Vice
President Kamala Harris' addressed the Congressional Black Caucus'
Phoenix Awards Dinner for the first time in her role as Vice President:
"This year’s conference theme, “Advancing Our Purpose and Elevating Our
Power." Tonight we gather once again at the Phoenix Dinner with so many friends and our CBC family. The first time I attended this dinner, I was in college at Howard University. You know. And as a United States senator, I attended this dinner as a CBC member. You will hear from the President about the progress we have
made together. A President who chose CBC members and staff to serve at
every level of our government - including our outstanding Secretary of
the Housing and Urban Development Agency, Madam Secretary Marcia Fudge.
"With the CBC, we invested an historic 5.8 billion dollars -- that’s “B” with a -- “B” -- billion dollars -- in our HBCUs, knowing that our HBCUs are some of our best, best intuitions of academic excellence. And, speaking of history, many of us were together yesterday morning for the investiture of the first Black woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
"We gather in unsettled times. I have seen that as I have traveled
across this nation and around the world as your Vice President. And you
have seen it, too. Ideals and freedoms that we thought were long
established and are now under threat. And at home, threats to a woman’s right to make decisions about her own
body. Threats to a voter’s right to cast a ballot and have
it counted. And threats to the right of every citizen to
lead and live free from hate and violence. We have a job to do. We have a job to do, because in this
room we have the power we need to get it done. And we have a President
who works every single day to elevate that power even higher to advance
that purpose even further. My fellow Americans, it is my honor to introduce the President of the United States, Joe Biden!!"
President
Biden entered amidst a thundering applause and a standing ovation.
This is his first time attending the Phoenix Awards Dinner - a
precedence set by former President Bill Clinton, followed by President
Barack Obama, and now continued with President Biden.
"Jill
and I are honored to be with so many friends. You know, though, I know
you’re really here to see Gladys Knight. I ain’t one of the Pips." The
audience responded with laughter and applause. What a welcome change
to have a president who was not overly puffed up over delusions of his
own self worth.
"And it’s time like these we’re reminded that America is about how we
choose to see one another; how we
choose to treat everyone with the dignity and respect they deserve; how we
choose to believe that America is big enough for all of us to
succeed. We have had big wins
since we were sworn in that simply wouldn’t have happened without the CBC. I told you all I was going to
appoint a Black woman to the Supreme Court, and we did. Thank you, thank
you, thank you, Cory (Bush), and for reminding us of the resolve and joy at
that historic moment to close the racial gap to make sure all Black Americans --
no matter where they live, no matter what their circumstance -- got a
chance to be vaccinated and boosted.
Highpoints of President Biden's address focused on the following accomplishments and concerns:
"More Black Americans gain health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
"Black unemployment is down. Black small-business creation is up.
"And Black child poverty was cut in half in 2021 because of the Child Tax Credit. And, with the help of the CBC, we’re working like hell to make sure we make the Child Tax Credit permanent. Permanent. Permanent. Look, instead of photo ops (which is what T-rump focused on during his misbegotten tenure - GDW), I delivered $5.8 Billion in funding -- more than any time in any portion of our history ever.
"Black unemployment is down. Black small-business creation is up.
"And Black child poverty was cut in half in 2021 because of the Child Tax Credit. And, with the help of the CBC, we’re working like hell to make sure we make the Child Tax Credit permanent. Permanent. Permanent. Look, instead of photo ops (which is what T-rump focused on during his misbegotten tenure - GDW), I delivered $5.8 Billion in funding -- more than any time in any portion of our history ever.
Marcia’s (HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge) leadership, we’re expanding
our
efforts to build Black wealth - like others have - through
homeownership; because we know that’s how you build equity and pass
down that wealth from generation to generation.
And we’re also aggressively -- aggressively combatting racial
discrimination in housing. And that includes everything from ending the
legacy of redlining -- which, I might add, was the first issue I got
involved in as a young county councilman and almost lost, but we were
right.
Black small businesses are the engines of our economy. But you
understand more than most people. They’re the glue that
holds a community together: the restaurant, the beauty shop, the barber
shop, the drug store.
Every business - no matter how big or small! They’re the ones that sponsor the church events, the Little League events. They’re the ones that hold a community together that people gather around. So, it matters when we support small businesses in the Black community.
Every business - no matter how big or small! They’re the ones that sponsor the church events, the Little League events. They’re the ones that hold a community together that people gather around. So, it matters when we support small businesses in the Black community.
My administration disperses hundreds of billions of
dollars in federal contracts for everything from refurbishing the decks
on aircraft carriers to installing the railings on federal buildings. I
get to spend $600 billion a year.
And I made a decision that it's all going to be made and worked for in
America. None of that money is going to any outfit that’s not in
America.
We're determined to make sure that taxpayer dollars goes to American companies and American workers. In my administration, We Buy American! And that includes increasing the share of those dollars that go to small, disadvantaged businesses, including brown and Black businesses!
We're determined to make sure that taxpayer dollars goes to American companies and American workers. In my administration, We Buy American! And that includes increasing the share of those dollars that go to small, disadvantaged businesses, including brown and Black businesses!
Susan Taylor & Hubby, Khephra Burns applaud President Biden's Vision for America at the Phoenix Awards Dinner
And we're going to bring that from 10 percent of all that money spent
going to small businesses that are Black and brown to 15 percent by
2025. That means an additional $100 billion to
those businesses and those communities. It matters!
In reference to infrastructure, we will replace poisonous lead pipes so every child can turn
on a faucet, whether they’re at home or school, and drink clean water.
You all worked hard to pass the George Floyd Justice
Policing Act in the House, but it got blocked by Senate
Republicans. And since they blocked it, I signed an historic Executive Order that
included key elements of the bill: banning choke holds; greatly
restricting no-knock warrants; creating a national database for officer
misconduct; tighten of the use-of-force police [policies]
emphasize -- emphasis on de-escalation; and to call for a fresh approach
to recruit, hire, train, promote, and retain law enforcement that come
from the neighborhoods they serve and know the people they’re charged to
protect. That’s tied to more community policing and
advancing public trust and public safety.
"Let me be clear: I’m not going to stand by and watch the fundamental freedoms in this country be taken from you, like the right to vote and have your vote counted.
"Let me be clear: I’m not going to stand by and watch the fundamental freedoms in this country be taken from you, like the right to vote and have your vote counted.
I’ll defend our democracy and
your freedoms with every fiber of my being.You had my back, and I promise you I’ll have yours!" - President Joe Biden
President
Biden's speech brought the entire ballroom to their feet in thunderous
standing ovation. And rightly so! He made this declaration early on,
on September 1, 2022 at Independence Mall in Philadelphia, PA - and has
reiterated it over and over.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
FOOTNOTE FROM ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS:
I'm adding a footnote here, one I hope you'll take to heart and share:
EVERY
MEMBER OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS, EVERY MEMBER OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY MUST BE ON MESSAGE, SHOW UNITY, AND COME TOGETHER TO
GET THE WORD OUT THAT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS MADE A COVENANT WITH
AMERICA AND HAS ALREADY GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT MOST PRESIDENTS HAVE
DONE.
WE
MUST IMPRESS UPON ALL OUR FELLOW DEMOCRATS THAT THIS MIDTERM ELECTION
IS ABOUT SAVING THE SOUL OF AMERICA FROM DESTRUCTION AND PRIVATION!
On
September 1, 2022, President Joe Biden put his foot down, literally and
figuratively, and let it be known that he would not stand idly by, or
cower in the face of fascism that has been given a boost on every level
by the predator in chief (my words, not his) and would take a firm stand
against any and all incursions of the freedoms of all Americans by the
maggots (Maga).
He
also emphasized that he was focused on making
America better than it was through several hands on measures. President
Biden is keeping those promises admirably, while sending a signal to
the opposition
that he was not going to tolerate the kinds of hostile aggressions and
threats leveled at those who are sincere about America's progress from
those who spent the previous four years simultaneously intimidating,
lying to, and robbing
Americans.
Over the past 30 days, from September 1 to October 1, 2022 - he has more
than kept his promise, including a convening a joint summit to stop the violence
and focus on keeping his promises to expand and implement services that
were essential to the well being and growth of America.
I want you to
know that he has kept his word at every turn. He has
personally visited victims of violence and assaults - such as the
victims of the Buffalo, NY Massacre, while also going on site to Florida
to walk through the devastation with Governor DeSantis ( DeInsanity - my
words, not his) to begin to mitigate the damage of Hurricane Ira (?).
He has made MADE IN AMERICA and return of manufacturing and jobs that
had been exported overseas to other countries - back to the United
States.
Make
no mistake about it - President Biden is a president who has kept, and
is keeping, his word, and is focused on doing even more.
Here's
the deal - as he would say - Each and every member of the
Congressional Black Caucus, their constituents, those reading this blog; those who don't
read this blog, but live in battleground states; educators, doctors,
lawyers, business owners, Americans with any sense of propriety and
love for their country, must hammer home this information. They must expound loudly and
clearly on the reasons this MIDTERM ELECTION IS CRITICAL TO THE
CONTINUATION OF THE PROGRESS - THIS IS A MIDTERM FOR ALL THE MARBLES -
SO THAT HE CAN CONTINUE TO PULL AMERICA BACK UP FROM THE SLIPPERY SLOPE
DOWN THE PRIMORDIAL OOZE THAT SLIMEBALLS T-RUMP, MCCONNELL, AND THOSE OF
THEIR ILK HAVE PUT US ON -
MESSAGE TO WOMEN: If we lose this Midterm election, then, women get out your chastity belts and
chains, Black people get out your shackles and hand over the whips to
the caucasoid slave monsters; educators give up your degrees and seek
jobs as janitors - because this country will never be able to make a
comeback from such a defeat.
I
know this is a departure from the coverage of the CBC and from the
reportage of the Phoenix Awards - an event that is designed to show our
progress and our courage in the face of adversity. Well, we are facing
adversity big time - and are days away from the MIDTERM
2022 ELECTIONS!! STOP WATCHING BOGUS NEWS REPORTS (which is really free publicity for T-rump and his maga maggots - The President gets 6 minutes - T-rump gets 25!!) AND USE YOUR OWN
COMMON SENSE FOR A CHANGE.
STOP GETTING FILLED UP WITH THE SPURIOUS
FOOLISHNESS ABOUT T-RUMP, THAT IS DESIGNED TO DIVERT YOUR ATTENTION FROM
THE REAL ISSUES AND FOCUS ON YOUR JOB - TO GET OUT, REGISTER, VOTE -
AND MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER EITHER DEMOCRAT OR - WHATEVER THAT OTHER
PARTY IS.
I
AM AWARE THAT I AM PREACHING TO THE CHOIR - BUT IT'S TIME FOR THE CHOIR
TO TAKE IT ON THE ROAD AND MAKE SURE THERE ARE OTHERS SINGING OUR TUNE IN HARMONY AND UNISON:
BLACK MIDTERM VOTES MATTER!
WOMEN'S MIDTERM VOTES MATTER!
GEN Z'S
MIDTERM VOTES MATTER!
SENIOR'S MIDTERM VOTES MATTER!
YOUR MIDTERM VOTES
MATTER -
WE HAVE TO WIN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE -
DON'T LET THE
MEANSTREAM MEDIA TELL YOU CAN'T WIN BOTH -
YOU CAN DO IT! YOU
MUST DO IT!
THE BEAUTY OF MY ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS BLOG
IS THAT I CAN ENDORSE WHO I WANT. I'M NEITHER BI-PARTISAN OR
NON-PARTISAN. I'M KNOWN AS THE "PARTISAN PRESS," BECAUSE WHAT AFFECTS
THE READERS AFFECTS ME AS WELL.
WE
ALL KNOW THAT THE REPUGLYCON (REPUBLICAN FOR THE UNINITIATED) PARTY IS
BACKING THE MOST REPREHENSIBLE CHARACTERS THEY CAN FIND - BECAUSE THEY
CAN MANIPULATE THEM. HENCE THE REASON THEY ARE BACKING WALKER OVER
WARNOCK HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS MORALS OR COMPETENCE. WE, WHO ARE
THE INTELLIGENT ONES ASK DON'T GET IT- WE CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY
WOULD SUPPORT SUCH A CRETIN. WHAT WE FAIL TO REALIZE IS TO THEM THIS IS
A NUMBERS GAME. THEIR ONLY INTEREST IS HAVING A MAJORITY IN THE SENATE
SO THEY CAN UNDERMINE PROGRESS! THEY KNOW THAT THERE ARE GULLIBLE
BLACK PEOPLE WHO ARE FOOLED INTO THINKING HE IS EITHER A HERO BECAUSE OF
HIS SPORTS BACKGROUND; OR THAT HE IS AN UNDERDOG BECAUSE THERE ARE SO
MANY OF US WHO ARE INSULTED BY HIS EVEN BEING CONSIDERED FOR SENATE.
WHITES LIKE HIM BECAUSE HE FITS HE STEREOTYPE OF THE CHARACTER ELDRIDGE
CLEAVER WROTE ABOUT IN SOUL ON ICE: "THE SUPER MASCULINE MENIAL."
THERE
ARE THOSE OF US WHO ARE "TOO SOPHISTICATED" TO CALL A SPADE A SPADE.
THAT'S HOW WE LOSE. TIME TO SPEAK OUT - COME OUT OF OUR SAFETY CORNER
AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL OUR ASSOCIATES, CONSTITUENTS, FAMILIES AND
FRIENDS KNOW THAT WE ARE UNDER SIEGE - THAT THIS IS THE TIME TO PANIC -
PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS - AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEW HITLER IS RIGHT ON
THE THRESHOLD OF OVERTHROWING AMERICA. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US MUST GO
BACK TO OUR BASE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE TURN OUT THE VOTES AND DEFEAT
THE REPUGLYCONS AND THE MAGA MAGGOTS AT EVERY TURN - EXPANDING THE HOUSE
AND THE SENATE - BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS IS ALSO AT STAKE IF WE DON'T DEFEAT ANARCHY, RACISM, VIOLENCE, FASCISM AND ALL T-RUMP STANDS FOR.
Y/OUR MIDTERM VOTES MATTER -
BIG TIME!!
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
THIS
YEAR WE HAVE A RECORD NUMBER OF BLACK CANDIDATES RUNNING IN KEY
ELECTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY - SOME YOU KNOW, SOME YOU MAY NOT BE
FAMILIAR WITH. BUT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM ALL - WE HAVE TO PLAY FOR
ALL THE MARBLES - DESPITE MEANSTREAM MEDIA LIARS AND PUNDITS - OUR VOTES
MATTER - OUR MIDTERM VOTES MATTER -
Val
Demings (FL), Raphael Warnock (GA), Mandela Barnes (WI), Marcus Flowers
(GA), Karen Bass (CA), Tim Ryan (OH), Letitia James (NY), Stephen
Kinsey (PA), Stacey Abrams (GA), Chris Jones (AR), Wes Moore (MD), Sheri
Beasley (NC), Krystle Matthews (SC), and other key critical DEMOCRATIC
candidates - running for everything from School Board, to State, Local
and and national office.
VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE BLUE -
NO MATTER WHO!!
PS:
Thanks to the DCPD police department and the Good Samaritan who turned
in my purse and Officer Hernandea, who returned it to me with all my ID
and info in it. You guys are awesome!! Thanks for your service - Stay
Blessed - GDW