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9th Annual Black Caucus Weekend

History and Background of the Congressional Black Caucus

The Congressional Black Caucus, which was formed in 1971, this year entered a new phase in its history. For the first time since the Caucus' formation a Democratic President sits in the White House.

The thirteen Black Members of Congress in 1971 saw the need to formalize their association to be able to speak with a unified voice for a historically underrepresented group which still face the oppression of racial discrimination and economic distress. By setting forth positions agreed to among themselves after consultation with persons from the Black communities throughout the nation, the Congressional Black Caucus would articulate the views of a national constituency in Congress. Stated simply, the Caucus provides a voice in the U.S.Congress for the concerns of Black and poor Americans.

Congressman Charles C. Diggs, Jr., the senior Black Member of Congress, was chosen as the Caucus' first Chairman. Under his direction, the staff was hired to serve the Caucus on issues and activities of common concern. Howard Robinson, who had had broad experience in government, was chosen as the first Executive Director. The first Annual Dinner was held on June 18, 1971.

The first Annual Dinner was extremely successful. In addition to raising funds to sustain the staff operation, the Dinner first brought the Caucus to national attention as an advocate for Black concerns. The national recognition was solidified when the Caucus met with then-President Richard Nixon on March 24, 1971, and presented him with a paper proposing specific recommendations for governmental action on domestic and foreign policy issues. The President's response was not considered adequate, which strengthen the resolve to build the Caucus into a national political force to represent the underrepresented.

Initially, a series of hearings and conferences on legislative issues were held to gather information upon which to build a legislative program. The facts gathered at the conferences were assembled to determine priority goals in such areas as Employment, Health Policy, Minority Enterprise, Education and Racism in the Military. At the same time, the Caucus found that many Black citizens were contacting the Caucus office with individual problems, which was beyond the capacity of a small staff with a legislative focus to handle.

Congressman Louis Stokes, an Ohio Democrat who had come to Congress in 1969, was elected as the second CBC Chairman. Under his leadership, the caucus focused its activities on the legislative process. In 1973, the Caucus delivered a "True State of the Union Message" on the House floor in an effort to set forth the Caucus Members' view of the nation's major issues. Dr. Augustus Adair, a political science professor from Baltimore, headed the Caucus staff.

In 1974, Congressman Charles B. Rangel, who represents Harlem in the Congress, took over the Caucus leadership. The Caucus had grown to 16 Members following the 1972 elections, and to 17 Members in 1974. A new staff director, Ms. Barbara Williams, an attorney and former administrative assistant to Congressman Dellums, came aboard as the 94th Congress began in 1975.

Under Congressman Rangel's leadership, the first formal Legislative Agenda of the Caucus was prepared and a legislative support network around the legislative priorities began. Continuing communication with Caucus supporters was initiated through a regularly published Caucus newsletter, "For the People," and a legislative update of key issues affecting minorities and the poor was disseminated. A seven person staff concentrated on working for the passage of legislation on the Legislative Agenda, development of a referral system for persons seeking assistance, development of a national legislative support network, and strengthened ties to other Black elected officials.

Congresswoman Yvonne B. Burke (D-Calif.) assumed the Caucus chair at the beginning of 1976 as the first woman to hold that position. A second legislative agenda was formulated, concentrating the priorities on ten issue areas including Full Employment, Health Care, Urban Revitalization, Civil and Political Rights, and Foreign Affairs. Congresswoman Burke led Caucus participation in the national election campaign, meeting with presidential candidates and setting forth issues in the public arena for the candidates to address.

This year, Congressman Parren [[J.?]] Mitchell was elected to serve as Caucus Chairman. Building on his own work in the minority enterprise area, Congressman Mitchell initiated the formation and development of a series of Brain Trusts in a variety of legislative subject-matter areas. The Brain Trusts, each headed by one or more Caucus members, are made up of experts from across the country to meet quarterly to advise the Caucus on legislative and administrative issues and Congress and Executive Branch.

During the first half of the year, Brain Trusts have met in the areas of Health, Education, Voter Participation, Communications, Aging, International Affairs, Criminal Justice and Minority Enterprise, a Brain Trust first established by Congressman Mitchell six years ago. Brain Trust members have also been active in letting their own Representatives and Senators know their views on national legislation.

Caucus Staff Operation

A staff of eight full-time persons provides the legislative, research, and information coordination of Caucus activities. While the staffs of individual Caucus members work on matters concerning their sixteen congressional districts, the Caucus staff works in several key areas:

• Issues of concern to the entire Caucus;

• Issues which need the collective effort of the entire Caucus;

• Issues which have broad impact on Black and other underrepresented Americans;

• Issues which members may be better able to support under the Caucus umbrella than in their own individual names.

Operating out of the third floor of the old Congressional Hotel adjacent to the Congressional Office buildings,

Sept. 29, 1979 – Washington Hilton Hotel

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Transcription Notes:
"Despite a popular myth to the contrary, once repeated on an episode ("Dear Dad... Three") of the hit TV series M*A*S*H, Drew's death was not the result of his having been refused a blood transfusion because of his skin color. This myth spread very quickly since during his time it was very common for blacks to be refused treatment" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_R._Drew#Death