Congressional Black Caucus Addresses Top Issues Facing African Americans at Annual Conference

By Chris Windham
Human Nature magazine

Tens of thousands of African-American elected officials, professionals, business and industry leaders, celebrities, and media operators and owners recently converged on Washington, D.C. for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 43rd Annual Legislative Conference.

Themed, “It Starts With You,” the CBCF’s Annual Legislative Conference is a broad forum of panel discussions and meetings designed to address the critical challenges facing African-Americans and the African Diaspora, such as the justice system, economic advancement, health issues, education and public policy.

Conference attendees typically share their thoughts and experiences with panelists, leading to a conversational dialogue that is shared via town hall meetings, discussion panels, social media and through personal conversations.

In addition to the issue forums, ALC’s news-making national town hall meeting, “From Poverty to Prosperity: Confronting Violence, Restoring Opportunity, and Investing in our Youth” addressed the impact of poverty, juvenile justice and gun violence.

The exhibit hall featured a newly-introduced procurement fair for small businesses and icons in the performing and visual arts were honored for their contributions.

The ALC also showcased the next generation of leaders – current and alumni participants in the Foundation’s stellar internship and fellows program will be showcased.

Focusing on today’s youth, the Emerging Leaders Series featured high-impact forums and networking opportunities. The thought-provoking and timely sessions included the Emerging Leaders Town Hall Meeting and a Young Elected Officials Roundtable.

The ALC Phoenix Awards Dinner, which typically concludes the week, this year honored Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland); former president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Elaine Jones; and former President Bill Clinton, who was unable to attend the event but addressed the attendees in a video.

The Phoenix Awards also featured remarks from President Barack Obama, who used the moment to assail Congressional Republicans for attempting to once again block his signature health care law from being enacted.

“It is not going to happen,” Obama said of the defunding measure. “We have come too far. We’ve overcome far darker threats than those.”

During the speech, Obama also renewed his push for greater restrictions on gun purchases, citing the ongoing gun violence in his hometown of Chicago, as well as the recent shooting rampage at Washington’s Navy Yard. Obama also discussed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy 50 years from the March on Washington, as well as the high African-American unemployment rate, which remains twice the rate for white Americans.

President and Michelle Obama greet supporters at CBC Dinner

Below are recaps posted by media outlets of the events from the Congressional Black Caucus’ annual legislative weekend.

President Obama Addresses Congressional Black Caucus – CSPAN

Highlights From the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference – Colorlines

Can Hip-Hop and Politics Work Together? — The Root

Human Nature Video – President Obama Discusses Black Unemployment, Legal Disparities