By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
Sorry for the late notice - Starts at 7:00PM - LIVE STREAM
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Gloria Dulan-Wilson Blog/ ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS
For Eclectic Black People
VIP: Views . Interests . Perspectives
Showing posts with label Howard University. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Howard University. Show all posts
11.10.2022
ICYMI: Guest post - WATCH LIVE ON FACEBOOK FROM HOWARD UNIVERSITY: : IBW21 Nov 10th Nat'l Town Hall at Howard University - Moderated by Dr. Julianne Malveaux and Roland Martin
From: IBW21 - Institute of the Black World 21st Century <mail@ibw21.org>
Sorry for the late notice - Starts at 7:00PM - LIVE STREAM
Sorry for the late notice - Starts at 7:00PM - LIVE STREAM
on FACEBOOK
IBW21 Nov 10th Nat'l Town Hall at Howard University -
Moderated by Dr. Julianne Malveaux and Roland Martin
H.E. Ambassador Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.
President/CEO Emeritus, NCBW, Inc. and
International President, The Dick Gregory Society, Inc.
202/554-0159; cell: 202/823-1545
--Cash App-- $EFAYEW
1251 4th St., SW, Washington, DC 20024
"It is through our struggles that we gain our victories." Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.
Until the lions tell their own story, tales of hunting will always glorify the hunter. -- African Proverb
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
5.17.2021
ICYMI: NJM Insurance Group Welcomes Brenda Ross-Dulan to Board of Directors
By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
Hello All:
There is nothing I like better than to share good news - especially when it comes to a family member. And I am so proud to announce the appointment of Brenda Ross-DULAN to NJM Insurance Group's Board of Directors.
I'm writing this preface to their official post, which basically synopsizes Brenda's resume of accomplishments and good works. In addition to what is on the official dossier, Brenda is a wonderful mom, with two highly accomplished children. She is a member of Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, and set major milestones in her former role at Wells Fargo.
A well spoken, down to earth, congenial spirit, Brenda will definitely be an asset to NJM.
I, and the rest of the family, wish her congratulations and much success in this new role. And congratulations to NJM for having the good judgment and good fortune to have her as a member of their Board.
NJM Insurance Group Welcomes Brenda Ross-Dulan to Board of Directors
On May 5, 2021Brenda Ross-Dulan, president and CEO of The Ross-Dulan Group, a
strategy consulting firm, has been elected to join the board of
directors of NJM
Insurance Group.
Brenda Ross-Dulan
Ross-Dulan has more than 25 years of experience in the financial
services industry, with skills in management, strategic decision making,
leadership development, community investment, and board governance. She
founded The Ross-Dulan Group in 2017. That same year,
she was ranked one of the 50 most powerful women in corporate America by Black Enterprise Magazine.
“Brenda is an exceptional leader with an accomplished history in
financial services,” said Mitch Livingston, NJM president and CEO.
“Her long standing support for business owners and communities will be a valuable asset as NJM expands its products and services in the region.”
After obtaining a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard
University, Ross-Dulan earned an MBA from the Anderson School of
Management at UCLA. She led the merger between Wachovia and Wells Fargo
and served as president of Wells Fargo’s consumer
banking group for Southern New Jersey. She also founded the RD Capital Partners Fund to encourage investments in underserved markets.
“NJM has earned the respect of consumers through its long history of
supporting the communities it serves,” said Ross-Dulan. “I look forward
to the opportunity to support NJM’s efforts to bring customer-focused insurance to businesses and families throughout the region.”
Ross-Dulan is the chair of the board of the Princeton Regional
Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she has served on many non-profit
boards,
including NJTV, Greater Trenton Initiative, and Coopers Ferry Community Development Association.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Gloria DULAN-Wilson
1.04.2016
Dr. Frances Cress Welsing has become an Ancestor/Angel
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Hello All:
The overwhelming response to the passing of Dr. Frances Cress Welsing into the realm of ancestor/angel, has been one of shock and sadness.
The response has been both global and visceral and instantaneous. Though she was not a "super star" in the artistic sense of the word, she was a super star for Black people, in her definitive stance on what racism and whites delusion of supremacy meant to us as a people.
White racism, debacle and perceived supremacy were definitely not new news to Black people, by a long stretch. However, what Dr. Welsing did was to scrutinize it down to it's most minute detail, and codify the kind of insanity it took to convince a people (whites) that they were somehow superior to people who were non-white, and then to have the temerity and gall to try to either convince the target group of its veracity; or, even more insidious, develop a code of behavior, media, education and other deterrents and inducements to punish those who dared not fall into line with that thinking.
A physician and a behavioral scientist by education and trade, and a pediatric specialist, Dr. Welsing was able to take the Kenneth Clark studies to a whole other level, by studying, not the victims, but the perpetrators themselves.
I read her first book - and like so many of my peers, was totally blown away by how indepth she had gone into her analyses. We were waiting for the whites to come out ot the woodwork from somewhere and blow her away, or try to discredit her. And that did happen, in a sense, because Howard University did not renew her contact - they were "upset" about the controversy she caused and how it might impact the school. (Proving, if they can't get you directly, they have other options - I know I don't need to carry that statement any further; no do I?)
I met Dr. Frances Cress Welsing in 1991 (or 92) at the Congressional Black Caucus. She was a panelist on Racism. At this juncture, I no longer remember who was on the panel with her, since I was there specifically to hear her views and gather knowledge.
The room was packed, the Isis Papers had just been published, but had not gotten into wide circulation, so many were not familiar with it. In fact, she continued to refer to the Isis papers, and recommending we get the book for a greater understanding of some of her statements and analogies.
I think the only thing I did not agree with her on was the fact that women should wait til they were 30 to have children, and men should have achieved a specific economic level - I remember saying to her: "If we waited for that, we'd be even more of a minority than we are now." We all had a good laugh at that statement, but I asked her why she felt that way.
Her response was (paraphrasing): "Our current family status is in bad condition. Many mothers are not raising their children appropriately. Children are not being well educated because the parents are not - and they don't know enough to demand appropriate education. By the time she is 30 a woman could have a well established career and still be of child bearing age, so if there is no father figure in the home, she won't have to struggle, and will still be able to provide the child with whatever he or she needs - emotionally, financially, etc."
I responded that the one reason it wouldn't work is because nature has designed human beings to bear early in life - and also, we all know that if you waited for the rich to have children, there would be nobody left on earth. " We had a laugh over that as well - but in the back of my mind, I remember thinking, how sad it is that we, as a people, still have not moved to the level that we can actually be self empowered, and self motivated and actualized - that we are still - in the 20th Century - victimized (little did I know then that the 21st Century would be even more heinous in some ways).
We have had so many sages like Dr. Welsing, come forth and try to wake Black people up. Try to get us to move, individually and collectively, in a way that we are no longer under the heel of the oppressor.
The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors explored the symbols and systemic practices of White supremacy and revealed the psychological dynamics of racism. The Isis Papers also explored the Black family structure, AIDS and the crisis of Black male and female relationships. In the Isis Papers Dr. Welsing wrote: “The whole of white culture is designed to say that whites have [certain] qualities. Everything possible is done to demonstrate this. First, you have [only] white players, then Blacks come in, but a white has to be the quarterback. Western culture has to project white supremacy. When Blacks succeed athletically, whites are forced ‘up against the psychological wall’ because white youngsters are ‘brought up to believe a white has to be superior’.”
Dr. Welsing was born March 18, 1935 - she was 80 years old when she made her transition. One of the former students of Howard University sent me an email about her passing, stating:
"Dr. Frances Cress Welsing has made transition to the next life. I was a student at Howard in the early 70s when she published her “Cress Theory of Color-Confrontation.” She was then a professor at Howard and would come to my dorm (Meridian Hill Hall) to meet with us monthly and discuss her theory. Howard didn't like it, but we loved and supported her. She was a strong, focused sister who did her research was not afraid to tell the truth regardless of the consequences. I'm sure she was a child of Sango, baba mi, because of her strength and courage to stand for justice and to expose the truth about our situation as African people. She was undaunted in her quest -- a powerful warrior queen. Those who don't know who she IS, need to find out. Every person of African descent needs to read her very important book. TRUTH! May Olodumare and the Ancestors bless and accept her soul for a job well done.
Frances Cress Welsing, Iba'e Tonu." Mariln Kai Jewett
The fact is that many of her theories of white delusional supremacy are in evidence right now - and they have gone into hyperdrive survival mode - witness the evisceration of the Voting Rights Act; of the Congress holding the US hostage so that a Black president cannot complete his agenda for saving the US from outside vultures; or the egregious excessive force and viiolence on the part of the police departments across the US, leveled at Black people (male and female); and the continued attempts to emasculate Black men. These are not "conspiracy theories" as some would try to couch them, but conspiracy fact, active, alive and well and in practice in the US, Brazil, parts of Europe and other parts of the world.
If you've not read the ISIS Papers, of you've read it quite some time ago, and need a refresher, I'm including the link to the PDF in this blog. Mind you, this is not a quick and dirty read - this is not a sound byte - this is an in depth analysis - and should be read fully. If you can, get the book - you might want to mark some pages - because you need to be learning this and then teaching/sharing it with others.
This is not meant to set up a system of paranoia - or of the kinds of mindless conversations I hear Black people parroting all over the place where we tend to say, "If it was a white person, they wouldn't do that...." NO, THIS IS A WAKE UP AND LET'S MAKE THE PARADIGM SHIFT TO SELF-EMPOWERMENT WE ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT, BUT NEVER IMPLEMENTING. To know the truth is wonderful; but to put it into action IS LIBERATING AND EMPOWERING.
And that's what Dr. Welsing had in mind when she wrote those two books. She was looking to give us the tools we needed to take the chains off or brains; to unlock the stranglehold they have had on our minds and to begin to think, be, do, have for ourselves whatever it was we needed.
So let's don't just mourn this powerful, positive BLACK WOMAN - let's learn even more and now make it real, right now. Let's make sure that we know which ISIS we're talking about - not the Isis that is a denigration of a great Egyptian Goddess that has been corrupted by the propaganda machines of the delusional supremacists; but the Isis who is the true Goddess in us - and when they make reference to Isis - make the correction - verbally and spiritually - we have to begin counter attacking all their perjoratives.
Dr. Welsing gave us a tool to begin the re-consruction and resurrection of Black people. Pick it up and work with it.
THIS IS THE LINK TO HER BOOK - ISIS PAPERS - IN PDF FORMAT
http://urbanartiphax.com/ebooks/files/The%20Isis%20Papers%20The%20Keys%20to%20the%20Colors%20-%20Dr.%20Francis%20Cress%20Welsing.pdf
To the family of Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, and all of us who admired her - my condolences. Peace Be Unto Her; and our ongoing gratitude for all that she did and tried to do to liberate Black people.
Stay Blessed
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria
-->
Hello All:
The overwhelming response to the passing of Dr. Frances Cress Welsing into the realm of ancestor/angel, has been one of shock and sadness.
The response has been both global and visceral and instantaneous. Though she was not a "super star" in the artistic sense of the word, she was a super star for Black people, in her definitive stance on what racism and whites delusion of supremacy meant to us as a people.
 |
| Dr. Frances Cress Welsing is now an Ancestor/Angel |
A physician and a behavioral scientist by education and trade, and a pediatric specialist, Dr. Welsing was able to take the Kenneth Clark studies to a whole other level, by studying, not the victims, but the perpetrators themselves.
Dr. Welsing became famous for her
work the Cress Theory of Color-Confrontation in
1974.
I read her first book - and like so many of my peers, was totally blown away by how indepth she had gone into her analyses. We were waiting for the whites to come out ot the woodwork from somewhere and blow her away, or try to discredit her. And that did happen, in a sense, because Howard University did not renew her contact - they were "upset" about the controversy she caused and how it might impact the school. (Proving, if they can't get you directly, they have other options - I know I don't need to carry that statement any further; no do I?)
I met Dr. Frances Cress Welsing in 1991 (or 92) at the Congressional Black Caucus. She was a panelist on Racism. At this juncture, I no longer remember who was on the panel with her, since I was there specifically to hear her views and gather knowledge.
The room was packed, the Isis Papers had just been published, but had not gotten into wide circulation, so many were not familiar with it. In fact, she continued to refer to the Isis papers, and recommending we get the book for a greater understanding of some of her statements and analogies.
I think the only thing I did not agree with her on was the fact that women should wait til they were 30 to have children, and men should have achieved a specific economic level - I remember saying to her: "If we waited for that, we'd be even more of a minority than we are now." We all had a good laugh at that statement, but I asked her why she felt that way.
Her response was (paraphrasing): "Our current family status is in bad condition. Many mothers are not raising their children appropriately. Children are not being well educated because the parents are not - and they don't know enough to demand appropriate education. By the time she is 30 a woman could have a well established career and still be of child bearing age, so if there is no father figure in the home, she won't have to struggle, and will still be able to provide the child with whatever he or she needs - emotionally, financially, etc."
I responded that the one reason it wouldn't work is because nature has designed human beings to bear early in life - and also, we all know that if you waited for the rich to have children, there would be nobody left on earth. " We had a laugh over that as well - but in the back of my mind, I remember thinking, how sad it is that we, as a people, still have not moved to the level that we can actually be self empowered, and self motivated and actualized - that we are still - in the 20th Century - victimized (little did I know then that the 21st Century would be even more heinous in some ways).
We have had so many sages like Dr. Welsing, come forth and try to wake Black people up. Try to get us to move, individually and collectively, in a way that we are no longer under the heel of the oppressor.
The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors explored the symbols and systemic practices of White supremacy and revealed the psychological dynamics of racism. The Isis Papers also explored the Black family structure, AIDS and the crisis of Black male and female relationships. In the Isis Papers Dr. Welsing wrote: “The whole of white culture is designed to say that whites have [certain] qualities. Everything possible is done to demonstrate this. First, you have [only] white players, then Blacks come in, but a white has to be the quarterback. Western culture has to project white supremacy. When Blacks succeed athletically, whites are forced ‘up against the psychological wall’ because white youngsters are ‘brought up to believe a white has to be superior’.”
Dr. Welsing was born March 18, 1935 - she was 80 years old when she made her transition. One of the former students of Howard University sent me an email about her passing, stating:
"Dr. Frances Cress Welsing has made transition to the next life. I was a student at Howard in the early 70s when she published her “Cress Theory of Color-Confrontation.” She was then a professor at Howard and would come to my dorm (Meridian Hill Hall) to meet with us monthly and discuss her theory. Howard didn't like it, but we loved and supported her. She was a strong, focused sister who did her research was not afraid to tell the truth regardless of the consequences. I'm sure she was a child of Sango, baba mi, because of her strength and courage to stand for justice and to expose the truth about our situation as African people. She was undaunted in her quest -- a powerful warrior queen. Those who don't know who she IS, need to find out. Every person of African descent needs to read her very important book. TRUTH! May Olodumare and the Ancestors bless and accept her soul for a job well done.
Frances Cress Welsing, Iba'e Tonu." Mariln Kai Jewett
The fact is that many of her theories of white delusional supremacy are in evidence right now - and they have gone into hyperdrive survival mode - witness the evisceration of the Voting Rights Act; of the Congress holding the US hostage so that a Black president cannot complete his agenda for saving the US from outside vultures; or the egregious excessive force and viiolence on the part of the police departments across the US, leveled at Black people (male and female); and the continued attempts to emasculate Black men. These are not "conspiracy theories" as some would try to couch them, but conspiracy fact, active, alive and well and in practice in the US, Brazil, parts of Europe and other parts of the world.
If you've not read the ISIS Papers, of you've read it quite some time ago, and need a refresher, I'm including the link to the PDF in this blog. Mind you, this is not a quick and dirty read - this is not a sound byte - this is an in depth analysis - and should be read fully. If you can, get the book - you might want to mark some pages - because you need to be learning this and then teaching/sharing it with others.
This is not meant to set up a system of paranoia - or of the kinds of mindless conversations I hear Black people parroting all over the place where we tend to say, "If it was a white person, they wouldn't do that...." NO, THIS IS A WAKE UP AND LET'S MAKE THE PARADIGM SHIFT TO SELF-EMPOWERMENT WE ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT, BUT NEVER IMPLEMENTING. To know the truth is wonderful; but to put it into action IS LIBERATING AND EMPOWERING.
And that's what Dr. Welsing had in mind when she wrote those two books. She was looking to give us the tools we needed to take the chains off or brains; to unlock the stranglehold they have had on our minds and to begin to think, be, do, have for ourselves whatever it was we needed.
So let's don't just mourn this powerful, positive BLACK WOMAN - let's learn even more and now make it real, right now. Let's make sure that we know which ISIS we're talking about - not the Isis that is a denigration of a great Egyptian Goddess that has been corrupted by the propaganda machines of the delusional supremacists; but the Isis who is the true Goddess in us - and when they make reference to Isis - make the correction - verbally and spiritually - we have to begin counter attacking all their perjoratives.
Dr. Welsing gave us a tool to begin the re-consruction and resurrection of Black people. Pick it up and work with it.
THIS IS THE LINK TO HER BOOK - ISIS PAPERS - IN PDF FORMAT
http://urbanartiphax.com/ebooks/files/The%20Isis%20Papers%20The%20Keys%20to%20the%20Colors%20-%20Dr.%20Francis%20Cress%20Welsing.pdf
To the family of Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, and all of us who admired her - my condolences. Peace Be Unto Her; and our ongoing gratitude for all that she did and tried to do to liberate Black people.
Stay Blessed
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria
-->
9.11.2015
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME - CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF CONVERING THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Hello All:
Well, it's finally here! I can hardly believe it myself - but it's true! I'm officially celebrating my 30th year of covering the Congressional Black Caucus!! I'm waiting for the confetti to fall from the ceiling somewhere, or Black journalists to pop up out of nowhere and ask me how it feels to have covered the Congressional Black Caucus for 30 years. Or for someone to pop out of a cake, or fireworks, or something spectacular, stupendous, amazing!
But, so far, not happening. Oh well. I'm stoked anyway. I'm happy and proud and pleased - and as David did in the Bible, I will continue to encourage myself.
From September 1985, when I first went to Washington DC with the New York based Political Action Committee (PAC) spearheaded by Andy Gill, Delano Steward, Goldie Watkins, John Kearse, Leroy Carmichael - through September 2015, I've covered events, issues, forums and concerns impacting the Congressional Black Caucus - the African American men and women who are elected by their constituencies to represent them in DC, as well as conducting countless interviews with key figures at the time, who were center stage on matters that the Caucus was trying to either resolve or have passed - often before a hostile, Republican-dominated Congress.
The Caucus hotel headquarters used to at the Washington Hilton on Constitution Ave.; but Congressman Edolphus Towns had it transferred to the Grand Hyatt, which at the time was directly across the street from the former Convention Center. Prior to the 90's, Caucus members had access to the Rayburn Building and the official quarters for members of Congress. Most of the meetings and forums would take place in their chambers. After the Repuglycons voted them out of the chambers, and as a result of negative treatment on the part of the staff at the Hilton, it became clear that it was going to require more community effort and more strategy in obtaining space to continue holding the Caucus. It was apparent they had hoped the CBC would fall flat with no place large enough to accommodate the thousands that converged on DC every year for the caucus. However, instead, it made the caucus even better run, better subscribed than ever. As it became more inclusive, more people were lending their expertise to come up with creative ways, land marks; etc. for the CBC, as well as entertainment and celebrities as it befitted an organization of this magnitude.
Now being held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, which is adjacent to the Marriott Marquis, making it easier to commute back and forth.
As 2015 approached, I actually toyed with the idea of writing a book about my 30 years - or at least a memoir. But I admit it is a daunting task and one that really requires that I set aside the time to really focus on getting it done. And, while it's not in the realm of impossibility, and I'm certainly not encumbered with a 9 to 5 daily like I used to be, it still requires focus.
Not the focus of what to include - but of what not to include. What not to tell - how much is too much; would be of relevance and interest to 21st Century readers who want instantaneous information and gratification.
The Congressional Black Caucus's footprint on history is enormous!! But most African Americans don't realize the extent to which they have been the Proverbial "David" standing up to behemoth "Goliaths" in Congress for 45 years - yes, this is the 45th Anniversary of the Congressional Black Caucus - so we've much to celebrate in that regard as well.
When you consider how the repuglycons (those are the non-Lincoln Republicans)
have been using their systematic program of trickery, lies and deceit to level trumped up charges against them, keep them off point and off balanced, fighting specious lawsuits and bogus criminal charges, while they are simultaneously also working in behalf of their constituents, you'd have a lot more respect for what they do manage to get passed in Congress. It always looks easier from the outside to the casual observer who alleges that his or her Black congressional figure is ineffective, or isn't doing his or her job - but you're only sitting on the rim of the "frying pan." Try standing in the middle of the burner, turned up to high heat, while they try to hold the line on budget cuts, overturning programs that benefit families - Black families - Affordable Housing, educational benefits, healthcare (we won that one), Social Security, VOTING RIGHTS (OURS!!!- WHITE'S VOTING RIGHTS ARE NOT UNDER THREAT OR IN QUESTION - BUT SOMEHOW OURS ARE), and a zillion more issues that come across their desks practically every second of every day, and you'll understand why you are looking at walking giant slayers when it comes to Congress.
The Congressional Black Caucus is the only real time they come together collectively or a few days to strategize for the next year, outside of the Congressional chambers. It when they open their doors collectively to their constituents, find out what's going on, update them about concerns; set plans and a course for the coming year; pat themselves and each other on their backs for jobs well done; commiserate with each other for problems that threaten our security; interface with constituents, business owners, activists, and other elected officials, either from their district, their home state, or from around the world - Africa, the Caribbean, South and Central America - the Diaspora.
The forums, panels, presentations are all formulated to inform stake holders - and we are ALL STAKE HOLDERS, make no mistake about it - about what's really behind a specific bill Boehner is trying to push through; what's really going on with education; why it is that a business protocol does not exist in one state but does in another - and what we can to do help.
The prodigious amount of work they do, the information they provide during the Caucus - the first two years I covered them, I would get material from every Black congressional member's workshop. It turned out to be a mini library - from Major Owens, NY (the "Education" Congressman), Edolphus Towns, NY; the late Mickey Leland, and the late Donald Payne, NJ (Committee on Africa - my favorite panel - I always attend that one); Diane Watson, CA (who launched an investigation into the Cherokee Nation trying to oust Blacks from their tribes in Oklahoma and other areas); Maxine Waters, CA (Young Gifted and Black Workshop - always packed and information rich); Coretta Scott-King (for years she did a workshop on SCLC and the Martin Luther King Legacy); Yvette Clarke, NY (Homeland Security and small business/entrepreneurship); John Lewis, GA, Ron Dellums, CA; Cynthia McKinney, GA; Carol Moseley Braun, IL; Chaka Fattah, PA; Jesse Jackson, Jr., IL; Bobby Rush, IL, Mel Watt, NC, Walter Fauntroy, DC; the late Marion Barry former mayor of DC; Greg Meeks, NY; Floyd Flake, NY; Charles Rangel, NY - this is only a partial list - not even an eighth of the people I've met and interviewed in the 30 years of covering the Caucus.
The Congressional Black Caucus has drawn activists, artists, athletes, artisans from all over the map. Either there to do business, learn first hand what's really happening with their community; bring an issue or problem to the attention of their representative - or just to hang out and soak up the atmosphere of being in the company of perhaps the largest grouping of African Americans who have come together for a positive reason. There's no profanity, very little in the way of hostility; we all disagree without being disagreeable; positive, empowered, conversant on issues in a ways that might not happen again during the course of the year when they're dealing with their caucasian counterparts - most of whom are repuglycons, and most of whom are doing everything in their power to decimate their numbers by using trumped up bogus criminal charges to force them to step down (did I mention that already?)
There was a period that I was doing it on my own, and not writing or taking photos in conjunction
with a specified Black news publication (such as the Daily Challenge,
the New York Beacon or the African Sun Times) - when I determined that it was time that I develop my own Blog. That was in 2008, right at the point when our entire economic well being was under siege, being undermined by the Bush Administration. It was the best thing I ever did! Writing my own blog was a liberating move, because I could give myself permission to write as little or as much as I chose; I could be pro- this or anti- that; I could shamelessly highlight any particular elected official, or wannabe I chose - of course based on their merits - not have an editor tell me that I could not.
I am, and have always been the "Partisan Press" - I reserved the right to have an opinion and be as concerned and involved as any of the constituents I was writing for or about. It was a policy I started after I realized that the meanstream (read white or majority) media was definitely not "objective," and that their articles went under the guise of being objective while taking jabs and snipes at particular congressmen/women, with the view towards sullying their reputation or undermining their effectiveness. Talk about propaganda. Some (most) was downright blatant. It occurred to me that we, as the Black media, weren't doing all we could to back our own up and tell their side of the story - thus began my move away from a proscribed formulation - which only worked for those who devised the formula - to one that left no uncertain impression as to What and Who and Where and When - and when possible even, How!
Generally, the only press that consistently covers the Congressional Black Caucus is the Black press. The only time the meanstream media shows up is when President Clinton would attend the Phoenix Award Dinners; and now when President Obama does so. They're as scarce as hen's teeth for other important matters - that is unless a riot has either happened, or may be about to happen; or a specific celebrity is involved. Radio One and the Washington Informer (a DC-based Black Newspaper are consistently there). Radio One and Al Sharpton consistently broadcast live from the Convention Center.
President Clinton, by the way, attended every Phoenix Award Dinner for eight years while he was President; President Obama has attended all but one, as President. The First Lady attended one of the dinners in his behalf when he was involved with issues that took him out of the country.
(Neither of the Bushes ever attended - I doubt seriously whether they would have had they been invited - I remember vaguely someone telling me they had been, but made some lame excuse.)
One of my proudest moments was the article I did on President Clinton during the heat of the Monica Lewinski debacle, where I described the persecutors as hired by Congress, and that Congress was secretly jealous that Clinton was getting all the attention. It appeared in the Daily Challenge, where it made headlines, the front cover and the center fold. I had the opportunity to put it personally in President Clinton's hands and get a "thumbs up" when he read the headlines.
One of my personal periods of angst was when a JC Watt was elected as Senator from Oklahoma City, on the repuglycon ticket. It was clear from the moment I met him that he was clueless about who he was and what he need to be/do for Black people. My absolute favorite forum is the Africa Summit that was initiated by the late Mickey Leland and carried forward by Donald Payne, and now being expanded by Karen Bass, CA. Keeping our ties and relationships with Africa alive and expanding is of paramount importance to me.
I have always wanted to bring busloads of students from New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Maryland down to a Caucus Weekend so they could see and hear their elected officials speak first hand. Also so they could be around mature adults and observe what it's like to see them an a positive, friendly, empowered environment. I doubt seriously if many of our youth have had that opportunity - and possibly the only time they've seen a Black man or woman in a business suit, has been on a TV series such as Empire, or some of the many others, where we look good, but sound like the hood. When my youngest daughter was in Middle School in NYC, I took her to the Caucus with me. She had an opportunity to learn the inner workings first hand, as well as meet elected officials she had only heard about in school.
Marion Barry, Mayor of DC, made it mandatory that a portion of the programs and events be held in the Black Community, so that the Black people and local businesses in DC would likewise benefit from the monies that flowed through the District during the 5-day event. Additionally, Howard University's Blackburn Center hosted a Sunday brunch - with live entertainment. Somehow neither of those two activities have happened for at least 10 years.
Each member of the CBC and the CBCF is a walking bit of history. Each person has come through some challenges that need to chronicled. And each of them brings that to the table with them. In addition to their being walking historical figures, they attracted greats in history as well. Dr. Dorothy Height, Rosa Parks, Min. Louis Farrakhan, Ambassador Andrew Young, African diplomats and ambassadors, including the late John Garang from the Sudan, Kofi Awonoor from Ghana, Steve Harvey, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Arsenio Hall, MC Lyte, Russell Simmons, B. Smith, Rev. Jesse Jackson, the late Maynard Jackson, among others.
When the Caucus was first started 45 years ago, the great actor/activist, Ossie Davis gave his famous speech, which stated, in part: "It's not the man, it's the plan; if not now, when; if not us, who?" It was exhortation to founding members of the Caucus to remember, as they moved forward, that it was not just about fame, but about getting the job done.
And I'm proud to say that I have had the great good fortune to be on hand to watch them do it for 30 years. They're finally beginning to open the archives to Social Media and present some of the forums online so that others will have the opportunity to be eyewitnesses to history as well.
While I frankly think I should get some sort of reward or recognition for consistency and continuity in 30 years of covering the Caucus; and those of us who have been veterans for 20 or 30 years should be accorded some sort of seniority, it doesn't seem to dawn on those in charge of media/press credentials to make it happen. Somehow or other, the Black Press has still not received the appreciation it deserves. And when I say that, I'm not talking about those who have had the great good fortune to rise to the level of being on TV - They're necessary, but not sufficient. They're subject to a ratings' game which could cause the networks to pull the plug at any given moment, without so much as a by your leave. Ask my brother/friend Rev. Al Sharpton, or the Rev. Jesse Jackson. They've both had it happen.
No, I'm talking about those of us who still work with the locally based Black newspapers; without whom half of any relevant news to Black people would never see the light of day. We're the ones who generally have to pay our own way to be there, but do it because it is important to us and to our people. It's as much a labor of love as it is anything else. It's making sure that our history is straight; that the issues are not distorted, or buried under bogus sidetracked conversations. It's about putting the news before the sports page, and making sure our readers know what's at stake - even if they don't follow suit by getting up and taking appropriate action.
The symbol for a 30th Anniversary is the Pearl - and the symbol for the 45th is the Sapphire. Hmmmm....!!!! Make a nice pendant, wouldn't it?
This year's Caucus will be no less pivotal. And I'm proud to be a part of it.
I encourage you to become involved, whether you travel to DC to participate, or you do your part to help your representatives from your own homebase. We have to make sure that the Congressional Black Caucus becomes even more effective and relevant in the future years to come.
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
www.gloriadulanwilson.blogspot.com/ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS
Hello All:
Well, it's finally here! I can hardly believe it myself - but it's true! I'm officially celebrating my 30th year of covering the Congressional Black Caucus!! I'm waiting for the confetti to fall from the ceiling somewhere, or Black journalists to pop up out of nowhere and ask me how it feels to have covered the Congressional Black Caucus for 30 years. Or for someone to pop out of a cake, or fireworks, or something spectacular, stupendous, amazing!
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| Gloria Dulan-Wilson Celebrating 30 years of Covering the Congressional Black Caucus |
But, so far, not happening. Oh well. I'm stoked anyway. I'm happy and proud and pleased - and as David did in the Bible, I will continue to encourage myself.
From September 1985, when I first went to Washington DC with the New York based Political Action Committee (PAC) spearheaded by Andy Gill, Delano Steward, Goldie Watkins, John Kearse, Leroy Carmichael - through September 2015, I've covered events, issues, forums and concerns impacting the Congressional Black Caucus - the African American men and women who are elected by their constituencies to represent them in DC, as well as conducting countless interviews with key figures at the time, who were center stage on matters that the Caucus was trying to either resolve or have passed - often before a hostile, Republican-dominated Congress.
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| Rev. Jesse Jackson and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, LA |
The Caucus hotel headquarters used to at the Washington Hilton on Constitution Ave.; but Congressman Edolphus Towns had it transferred to the Grand Hyatt, which at the time was directly across the street from the former Convention Center. Prior to the 90's, Caucus members had access to the Rayburn Building and the official quarters for members of Congress. Most of the meetings and forums would take place in their chambers. After the Repuglycons voted them out of the chambers, and as a result of negative treatment on the part of the staff at the Hilton, it became clear that it was going to require more community effort and more strategy in obtaining space to continue holding the Caucus. It was apparent they had hoped the CBC would fall flat with no place large enough to accommodate the thousands that converged on DC every year for the caucus. However, instead, it made the caucus even better run, better subscribed than ever. As it became more inclusive, more people were lending their expertise to come up with creative ways, land marks; etc. for the CBC, as well as entertainment and celebrities as it befitted an organization of this magnitude.
Now being held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, which is adjacent to the Marriott Marquis, making it easier to commute back and forth.
As 2015 approached, I actually toyed with the idea of writing a book about my 30 years - or at least a memoir. But I admit it is a daunting task and one that really requires that I set aside the time to really focus on getting it done. And, while it's not in the realm of impossibility, and I'm certainly not encumbered with a 9 to 5 daily like I used to be, it still requires focus.
Not the focus of what to include - but of what not to include. What not to tell - how much is too much; would be of relevance and interest to 21st Century readers who want instantaneous information and gratification.
The Congressional Black Caucus's footprint on history is enormous!! But most African Americans don't realize the extent to which they have been the Proverbial "David" standing up to behemoth "Goliaths" in Congress for 45 years - yes, this is the 45th Anniversary of the Congressional Black Caucus - so we've much to celebrate in that regard as well.
When you consider how the repuglycons (those are the non-Lincoln Republicans)
have been using their systematic program of trickery, lies and deceit to level trumped up charges against them, keep them off point and off balanced, fighting specious lawsuits and bogus criminal charges, while they are simultaneously also working in behalf of their constituents, you'd have a lot more respect for what they do manage to get passed in Congress. It always looks easier from the outside to the casual observer who alleges that his or her Black congressional figure is ineffective, or isn't doing his or her job - but you're only sitting on the rim of the "frying pan." Try standing in the middle of the burner, turned up to high heat, while they try to hold the line on budget cuts, overturning programs that benefit families - Black families - Affordable Housing, educational benefits, healthcare (we won that one), Social Security, VOTING RIGHTS (OURS!!!- WHITE'S VOTING RIGHTS ARE NOT UNDER THREAT OR IN QUESTION - BUT SOMEHOW OURS ARE), and a zillion more issues that come across their desks practically every second of every day, and you'll understand why you are looking at walking giant slayers when it comes to Congress.
The Congressional Black Caucus is the only real time they come together collectively or a few days to strategize for the next year, outside of the Congressional chambers. It when they open their doors collectively to their constituents, find out what's going on, update them about concerns; set plans and a course for the coming year; pat themselves and each other on their backs for jobs well done; commiserate with each other for problems that threaten our security; interface with constituents, business owners, activists, and other elected officials, either from their district, their home state, or from around the world - Africa, the Caribbean, South and Central America - the Diaspora.
The forums, panels, presentations are all formulated to inform stake holders - and we are ALL STAKE HOLDERS, make no mistake about it - about what's really behind a specific bill Boehner is trying to push through; what's really going on with education; why it is that a business protocol does not exist in one state but does in another - and what we can to do help.
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| L-R Fattima Gamble, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, CA and Developer Kenny Gamble |
The prodigious amount of work they do, the information they provide during the Caucus - the first two years I covered them, I would get material from every Black congressional member's workshop. It turned out to be a mini library - from Major Owens, NY (the "Education" Congressman), Edolphus Towns, NY; the late Mickey Leland, and the late Donald Payne, NJ (Committee on Africa - my favorite panel - I always attend that one); Diane Watson, CA (who launched an investigation into the Cherokee Nation trying to oust Blacks from their tribes in Oklahoma and other areas); Maxine Waters, CA (Young Gifted and Black Workshop - always packed and information rich); Coretta Scott-King (for years she did a workshop on SCLC and the Martin Luther King Legacy); Yvette Clarke, NY (Homeland Security and small business/entrepreneurship); John Lewis, GA, Ron Dellums, CA; Cynthia McKinney, GA; Carol Moseley Braun, IL; Chaka Fattah, PA; Jesse Jackson, Jr., IL; Bobby Rush, IL, Mel Watt, NC, Walter Fauntroy, DC; the late Marion Barry former mayor of DC; Greg Meeks, NY; Floyd Flake, NY; Charles Rangel, NY - this is only a partial list - not even an eighth of the people I've met and interviewed in the 30 years of covering the Caucus.
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| L-R: Congressman James Clyburn, S.C & Ed Lewis, co-Founder of Essence Magazine at Book Signing hosted by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc |
The Congressional Black Caucus has drawn activists, artists, athletes, artisans from all over the map. Either there to do business, learn first hand what's really happening with their community; bring an issue or problem to the attention of their representative - or just to hang out and soak up the atmosphere of being in the company of perhaps the largest grouping of African Americans who have come together for a positive reason. There's no profanity, very little in the way of hostility; we all disagree without being disagreeable; positive, empowered, conversant on issues in a ways that might not happen again during the course of the year when they're dealing with their caucasian counterparts - most of whom are repuglycons, and most of whom are doing everything in their power to decimate their numbers by using trumped up bogus criminal charges to force them to step down (did I mention that already?)
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| Ms. Lesley McSadden (L) and Michael Brown Sr. (R) Parents of Michael Brown |
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| Congresswoman Clarke & NY Assembly woman Latrice Walker |
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| Dr. Ben Chavis CEO NNPA |
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| Some of the DC students from President Obama's My Brothers; Keeper Program |
I am, and have always been the "Partisan Press" - I reserved the right to have an opinion and be as concerned and involved as any of the constituents I was writing for or about. It was a policy I started after I realized that the meanstream (read white or majority) media was definitely not "objective," and that their articles went under the guise of being objective while taking jabs and snipes at particular congressmen/women, with the view towards sullying their reputation or undermining their effectiveness. Talk about propaganda. Some (most) was downright blatant. It occurred to me that we, as the Black media, weren't doing all we could to back our own up and tell their side of the story - thus began my move away from a proscribed formulation - which only worked for those who devised the formula - to one that left no uncertain impression as to What and Who and Where and When - and when possible even, How!
Generally, the only press that consistently covers the Congressional Black Caucus is the Black press. The only time the meanstream media shows up is when President Clinton would attend the Phoenix Award Dinners; and now when President Obama does so. They're as scarce as hen's teeth for other important matters - that is unless a riot has either happened, or may be about to happen; or a specific celebrity is involved. Radio One and the Washington Informer (a DC-based Black Newspaper are consistently there). Radio One and Al Sharpton consistently broadcast live from the Convention Center.
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| First Lady and President Obama and Congressman Chaka Fattah at Phoenix Award Dinner 2013 |
President Clinton, by the way, attended every Phoenix Award Dinner for eight years while he was President; President Obama has attended all but one, as President. The First Lady attended one of the dinners in his behalf when he was involved with issues that took him out of the country.
(Neither of the Bushes ever attended - I doubt seriously whether they would have had they been invited - I remember vaguely someone telling me they had been, but made some lame excuse.)
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| The Late Mayor Marion Barry and Former President Bill Clinton |
One of my personal periods of angst was when a JC Watt was elected as Senator from Oklahoma City, on the repuglycon ticket. It was clear from the moment I met him that he was clueless about who he was and what he need to be/do for Black people. My absolute favorite forum is the Africa Summit that was initiated by the late Mickey Leland and carried forward by Donald Payne, and now being expanded by Karen Bass, CA. Keeping our ties and relationships with Africa alive and expanding is of paramount importance to me.
I have always wanted to bring busloads of students from New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Maryland down to a Caucus Weekend so they could see and hear their elected officials speak first hand. Also so they could be around mature adults and observe what it's like to see them an a positive, friendly, empowered environment. I doubt seriously if many of our youth have had that opportunity - and possibly the only time they've seen a Black man or woman in a business suit, has been on a TV series such as Empire, or some of the many others, where we look good, but sound like the hood. When my youngest daughter was in Middle School in NYC, I took her to the Caucus with me. She had an opportunity to learn the inner workings first hand, as well as meet elected officials she had only heard about in school.
Marion Barry, Mayor of DC, made it mandatory that a portion of the programs and events be held in the Black Community, so that the Black people and local businesses in DC would likewise benefit from the monies that flowed through the District during the 5-day event. Additionally, Howard University's Blackburn Center hosted a Sunday brunch - with live entertainment. Somehow neither of those two activities have happened for at least 10 years.
Each member of the CBC and the CBCF is a walking bit of history. Each person has come through some challenges that need to chronicled. And each of them brings that to the table with them. In addition to their being walking historical figures, they attracted greats in history as well. Dr. Dorothy Height, Rosa Parks, Min. Louis Farrakhan, Ambassador Andrew Young, African diplomats and ambassadors, including the late John Garang from the Sudan, Kofi Awonoor from Ghana, Steve Harvey, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Arsenio Hall, MC Lyte, Russell Simmons, B. Smith, Rev. Jesse Jackson, the late Maynard Jackson, among others.
 |
| Congressman Chaka Fattah, PA and Kenny Gamble |
When the Caucus was first started 45 years ago, the great actor/activist, Ossie Davis gave his famous speech, which stated, in part: "It's not the man, it's the plan; if not now, when; if not us, who?" It was exhortation to founding members of the Caucus to remember, as they moved forward, that it was not just about fame, but about getting the job done.
And I'm proud to say that I have had the great good fortune to be on hand to watch them do it for 30 years. They're finally beginning to open the archives to Social Media and present some of the forums online so that others will have the opportunity to be eyewitnesses to history as well.
While I frankly think I should get some sort of reward or recognition for consistency and continuity in 30 years of covering the Caucus; and those of us who have been veterans for 20 or 30 years should be accorded some sort of seniority, it doesn't seem to dawn on those in charge of media/press credentials to make it happen. Somehow or other, the Black Press has still not received the appreciation it deserves. And when I say that, I'm not talking about those who have had the great good fortune to rise to the level of being on TV - They're necessary, but not sufficient. They're subject to a ratings' game which could cause the networks to pull the plug at any given moment, without so much as a by your leave. Ask my brother/friend Rev. Al Sharpton, or the Rev. Jesse Jackson. They've both had it happen.
No, I'm talking about those of us who still work with the locally based Black newspapers; without whom half of any relevant news to Black people would never see the light of day. We're the ones who generally have to pay our own way to be there, but do it because it is important to us and to our people. It's as much a labor of love as it is anything else. It's making sure that our history is straight; that the issues are not distorted, or buried under bogus sidetracked conversations. It's about putting the news before the sports page, and making sure our readers know what's at stake - even if they don't follow suit by getting up and taking appropriate action.
 |
| 30 years of Covering the Congressional Black Caucus - I can't tell you how many camera's I've worn out! Lol! |
The symbol for a 30th Anniversary is the Pearl - and the symbol for the 45th is the Sapphire. Hmmmm....!!!! Make a nice pendant, wouldn't it?
This year's Caucus will be no less pivotal. And I'm proud to be a part of it.
I encourage you to become involved, whether you travel to DC to participate, or you do your part to help your representatives from your own homebase. We have to make sure that the Congressional Black Caucus becomes even more effective and relevant in the future years to come.
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
www.gloriadulanwilson.blogspot.com/ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS
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