THE NEED FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS IS AS CRITICAL TODAY AS IT WAS 40 YEARS AGO

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William L. Clay, Sr.
William L. Clay, Sr.

by William L. Clay, Sr. United States Congress, RetiredSpecial to the NNPA

Who would have thought that 40 years ago l3 black members holding no committee chairmanships, with limited staff and little insider input, would grow to 42 in number and meaningful influence to impact most issues, possess legislative expertise equal to the best, and wield considerable power in shaping the final forms of laws.

There was a dire need for organizing the CBC because the basic interests of millions of blacks were badly neglected by a substantial number of both Democrats and Republicans who conspired to deny full citizenship to them.

The original 13 Black members came from 8 states and the District of Columbia. Not one was from the south where 51 percent or 12 million Blacks lived and were denied the right to vote because of physical intimidation, lynchings, and economic threats. Those elected from 10 southern states and their co-conspirators in northern districts shamefully prevented the extension of their human and civil rights.

The elections of Shirley Chisholm, Louis Stokes and myself, followed two years later with the addition of Charles Rangel, Parren Mitchell, George Collins, Ralph Metcalf, Walter Fauntroy and Ronald Dellums, ushered in a new era, a new direction for Black influence in congressional deliberations. Black Americans witnessed the greatest advancement of their political rights in history.

They proudly watched 13 of their own successfully end the ability of southern chairmen block assignment of Blacks to important committees; supported their demand that President Nixon address the problems of our people, when he refused, they cheered the CBC boycott of his State of the Union address; and were jubilant as the Caucus pushed through legislation that enacted set-asides in government contracts for minority business. The CBC consistently attacking every policy and practice that conferred privilege, advantage and preferential treatment on the elite class was a source of inspiration to a deprived class of people.

Forming the Congressional Black Caucus rocked some boats and ruffled many feathers, including those of longtime friends and fair weather allies: liberals were offended that a group of Blacks would plan a course of action without consulting or seeking their advice; labor leaders feared they would no longer set the political and economic agenda for Blacks to follow without questioning or changing; civil rights leaders were apprehensive that the CBC would usurp their perceived right to exclusively decide what racial issues were priority and how fast to pursue them.

Despite their fears and concerns, the time had arrived for Blacks to speak for themselves. Middlemen were unnecessary; especially in the wake of massive street demonstrations that prompted enactment of civil rights.

The need for the CBC was as critical then as it is today. The ideological assault waged to reverse racial and sexual gains, to eliminate the middle class and to exploit workers by eliminating collective bargaining must be denounced and resisted. The voices of 42 strong CBC members, chanting in solidarity, in unity must provide the leadership in reversing the sadistic, insane politics permeating the county.

The CBC has the respect, the mandate, the obligation to protect, to preserve the historical advances established in the last 40 years for women, workers, minorities, the sick and the handicap.

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