National Black Caucus of State Legislators facts for kids

The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is an American political group. It is made up of African Americans who have been elected to serve in state governments across the United States and its territories.

What is the National Black Caucus of State Legislators?

The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is a group for African American lawmakers. These lawmakers serve in state legislatures. They come from 47 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States Virgin Islands. The NBCSL represents over 700 state legislators. These members represent more than 50 million Americans from different backgrounds.

How the NBCSL Started

The NBCSL began in 1977. About 18 African American state lawmakers were at a meeting. They felt that the larger group, the National Conference of State Legislatures, was not including them enough. So, they decided to hold their own meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. About 90 African American state lawmakers attended this first meeting.

The first president of the NBCSL was Matthew McNeely. He was a state representative from Michigan. By 2008, the organization had grown a lot. It had more than 600 members. These members came from 44 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.

What the NBCSL Does

Since it started, the NBCSL has held a big meeting every year. This meeting is called the Annual Legislative Conference. It takes place in a different state each time. Throughout the year, the NBCSL also holds smaller meetings. These are called policy symposia. They help members learn about new trends and important issues. This keeps them informed about topics that affect the people they represent.

During the Annual Legislative Conference, special committees meet. They talk about ideas for new policies. These ideas come from the information shared in the symposia. Members then vote on these policy ideas. If an idea is approved, it becomes an official position of the NBCSL. Lawmakers, business partners, and labor groups then use these positions. They work to influence laws and policies in state governments and in Washington, D.C..

Important Goals of the NBCSL

The main goal of the NBCSL is to help its members. They create and share educational programs. They also do research and offer training. This helps their members be more effective lawmakers. It helps them make good decisions about laws and public issues. These decisions are meant to help African American citizens in their areas. The NBCSL focuses on issues that affect policies within the U.S. They are dedicated to policies that help all Americans.

Who Leads the NBCSL?

The NBCSL has a team of leaders. These leaders are elected by the members. They help guide the organization and its work. As of August 2025, some of the key leaders include:

• Representative Harold M. Love Jr. (Tennessee) as President
• Senator Raumesh Akbari (Tennessee) as President-Elect
• Senator James Sanders Jr. (New York) as Vice President
• Representative Toni Rose (Texas) as Secretary
• Delegate Ashanti Martinez (Maryland) as Financial Secretary
• Representative Cherish Pryor (Indiana) as Treasurer
• Senator Gerald Neal (Kentucky) as Parliamentarian
• Senator Paul Lowe (North Carolina) as Chaplain

State Legislative Black Caucuses

Many states also have their own groups of African American lawmakers. These groups are called State Legislative Black Caucuses. They work on issues important to their specific states. Here are some of these caucuses and their leaders:

• Alabama Legislative House & Senate Black Caucus
• Arizona Legislative Black Caucus
• Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus
• California Legislative Black Caucus
• Delaware Black Caucus
• Florida Conference of Black Legislators
• Georgia Legislative Black Caucus
• Illinois Legislative Black Caucus
• Indiana Black Legislative Caucus
• Iowa Black Caucus
• Kansas African American Legislative Caucus
• Kentucky Black Legislative Caucus
• Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland
• Missouri Legislative Black Caucus
• Legislative Black Caucus (Virgin Islands)
• Legislative Black and Hispanic Caucus (Wisconsin)
• Legislative Black and Puerto Rican Caucus (Connecticut)
• Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus
• Massachusetts Black Legislative Caucus
• Michigan Legislative Black Caucus
• Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus
• Nevada Black Legislative Caucus
• New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus
• New York Legislative Black Caucus
• North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus
• Ohio Legislative Black Caucus
• Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus
• Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus
• Rhode Island Minority Legislator/Leadership Caucus
• South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus
• Tennessee Legislative Black Caucus
• Texas Legislative Black Caucus
• Virginia Legislative Black Caucus