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Congressional Black Caucus facts for kids

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The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is a group of most African-American members of the United States Congress. It works to make sure the voices and concerns of Black people are heard in government. Representative Joyce Beatty from Ohio is currently the chair of the caucus. The CBC aims to improve life for African Americans and others by focusing on important issues.

History

How it Started

The group began in January 1969 as the Democratic Select Committee. It was formed by Black members of the House of Representatives, including Shirley Chisholm of New York and Louis Stokes of Ohio. More Black representatives were being elected in the 1960s, and they wanted a formal group to work together.

In February 1971, the group was renamed the Congressional Black Caucus. There were thirteen founding members, including Shirley Chisholm, John Conyers, and Charles Rangel. Shirley Chisholm famously called the group "unbought and unbossed," meaning they made their own decisions and weren't controlled by others.

When the CBC was new, President Richard Nixon didn't want to meet with them. So, the CBC decided not to attend his 1971 State of the Union speech. This brought them a lot of attention. Later, Nixon did meet with them. The CBC gave him a plan with ideas to end racism and improve housing and government involvement for Black families.

In 1972, the CBC created two important documents: the Black Declaration of Independence and the Black Bill of Rights. These documents outlined their goals for jobs, education, housing, healthcare, and civil rights. They were inspired by the National Black Political Convention, which also created a plan called "The Gary Declaration."

Fighting for Change

In 1977, the CBC helped start TransAfrica. This group provided information and support for issues related to Africa and its people around the world. The CBC and TransAfrica worked together to fight apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid was a system of racial separation and discrimination. They started the Free South Africa Movement, which involved many protests and became the longest-lasting civil disobedience movement in U.S. history. Their efforts helped pass the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986, which put pressure on South Africa to end apartheid.

Changes in Funding

In 1995, the House of Representatives changed its rules. This meant that groups like the CBC could no longer receive money from taxpayers or have offices in the Capitol building. The CBC then reorganized itself as a Congressional Member Organization, continuing its work without direct government funding.

Important Events

The caucus often meets with the President at the White House to discuss important issues.

During the George Floyd protests in 2020, CBC members wore special kente stoles. Kente is a colorful fabric from Ghana. They wore these stoles during a moment of silence to honor George Floyd and then introduced the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, a bill aimed at police reform.

Goals

The CBC aims to "positively influence events important to African Americans." They also want to achieve "greater fairness for people of African descent" in government programs and services, both in the U.S. and internationally.

Their main goals include:

  • Improving education and opportunities for everyone.
  • Making sure all Americans have good healthcare.
  • Focusing on jobs and financial security.
  • Ensuring justice for all people.
  • Providing retirement security for all Americans.
  • Increasing fairness in foreign policy.

Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson once said that the CBC is a "family of freedom fighters." She explained that they work closely together and their different skills help them be effective, even with their numbers.

Mark Anthony Neal, a professor of African-American studies, believes the CBC is still very important. He thinks they should use the energy created by Barack Obama's election to continue their work.

Congressional Black Caucus PAC

The Congressional Black Caucus PAC is a group that helps raise money for political campaigns. Its goal is to help more Black people get elected to the U.S. Congress. It also supports other candidates who will champion the needs and interests of the Black community. The PAC also works to encourage more Black Americans to participate in the political process.

Membership

The CBC has grown a lot since it started. In 1971, it had thirteen members. By 2019, it had 55 members, including those who represent places like Washington, D.C. and the United States Virgin Islands.

Senate Members

Since the CBC was founded, nine Black senators have served. Seven of them have been members of the CBC. These include current Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey and Raphael Warnock of Georgia. Former members include Kamala Harris, who became Vice President, and Barack Obama, who became President.

Senator Edward Brooke, a Republican, was serving when the CBC started but did not join. More recently, Senator Tim Scott, also a Republican, chose not to join the CBC.

Black Republicans in the CBC

The CBC is officially open to all parties. However, most Black members of Congress have been Democrats. Since 1971, twelve Black Republicans have been elected to Congress. Of these, only four have joined the CBC: Melvin H. Evans, Gary Franks, Allen West, and Mia Love. Currently, the CBC has no Republican members, even though Byron Donalds has applied to join.

Gary Franks was the first Republican voting congressman to join in 1991. After he left Congress, no Republicans joined the CBC for fourteen years until Allen West in 2011.

Non-Black Membership

All members of the CBC have been African-American. In 2006, Steve Cohen, who is Jewish, tried to join the caucus. However, his application was not accepted. Members of the caucus felt that the group should remain "exclusively black" to focus on the specific needs of the Black population.

Representative Lacy Clay, whose father was a co-founder of the caucus, explained that the CBC has an "unwritten rule" that members must be Black. He said that the group is focused on the needs of the Black community.

Black Latino Membership

For a long time, no one had tried to be part of both the CBC and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC). In 2016, Adriano Espaillat, who is Afro-Dominican, was elected to the House. He wanted to join both groups but was initially not accepted by the CBC.

However, in 2018, Antonio Delgado, an Afro-Latino Democrat, was elected and successfully joined the CBC. In 2020, Ritchie Torres, an Afro-Puerto Rican, also joined both the CBC and the CHC after being elected to Congress. This showed that it is possible for Black Latino members to be part of both caucuses.

Chairs

The following U.S. representatives have led the Congressional Black Caucus:

Leadership

Current Members

Congressional Black Caucus women 2019
Congressional Black Caucus women in 2019

United States Senate

Georgia

New Jersey

United States House of Representatives

Alabama

California

Colorado

Connecticut

District of Columbia

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Louisiana

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Nevada

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Texas

Virginia

Washington

Wisconsin

U.S. Virgin Islands

Former Members

Presidents of the United States

  • Barack Obama (D-US), 44th President of the United States (2009–2017). He was also a U.S. Senator from Illinois.

Vice Presidents of the United States

  • Kamala Harris (D-US), 49th Vice President of the United States (2021–present). She was also a U.S. Senator from California.

United States Senate

United States House of Representatives

  • Charles Rangel (D-NY), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York (1971-2017).
  • John Conyers (D-MI), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan (1965-2017).
  • Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland (1996-2019).
  • John Lewis (D-GA), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia (1987–2020). He was a famous civil rights leader.
  • William Lacy Clay Jr. (D-MO), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri (2001–2021).
  • Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana (2011–2021).
  • Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio (2008–2021). She later became Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
  • Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida (1993-2021).

Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls

The Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls is a separate group in Congress. It was started in 2016. Its goal is to work on issues and laws that are important for the well-being of Black women and girls.

Images for kids

  • Nelson Mandela and the Congressional Black Caucus

    South African president Nelson Mandela with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Representative Kweisi Mfume, at an event at the Library of Congress

  • CBCfoundingmembers

    The 13 founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)

  • African Americans in US House

    A map of congressional districts represented by Black representatives in the 117th Congress

  • Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Entrance

    The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

See also

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