When is congressional black caucus

How is opposing conservative election reforms a Black issue when a clear majority of Black voters support voter ID laws? How is policing a Black issue when all Americans can benefit from a more just criminal code? How is it a Black issue to defend the public school system when it routinely fails Black students? But this begs the question: What are Black issues?

The simple answer is there is no such thing as a Black issue in present-day America. Black people, like any other race in America, contain multitudes.

They are not monolithic. Yet the Congressional Black Caucus wants to paint it into that corner. All others receive indifference. This paints a stark difference from the CBC of Indeed, freedom of association is an inalienable right, a basic freedom that even philosopher John Locke recognized as fundamental to a free society.

Who decides what political positions best align with the interests of Black Americans? Alas, no one speaks for Black Americans better than we do for ourselves. Those statistical truths suggest a wide diversity of thought among African American voters. The CBC and any other group should avoid representing abstract concepts Blackness, for example to stand on concrete, universal principles — such as free expression, which the CBC rejects within its ranks.

At any rate, the CBC does both itself and Black Americans a tremendous disservice by acting in such an irrational manner. My question is simple: Will the CBC embrace the necessity of intellectual diversity and debate , which allows us to understand the world around us and, consequently, forge better policies, or will they continue to push their own unchallenged beliefs of Black authenticity as gospel truth?

Washington mail. Joyce Beatty Airen Washington airen. Anthony G. Brown Christian Unkenholz Press christian. Beatty Airen Washington Airen. Horsford Geneva Kropper Geneva. Kropper mail. Robin Kelly Rachel Kingery, Rachel. Kingery mail. Joyce Beatty , Airen Washington, Airen. Yvette Clarke Remmin This year marks the 50 th Anniversary of the Congressional Black Caucus and, throughout the course of the year, we will celebrate the accomplishments of the CBC, and most importantly, will continue to highlight the ways in which the CBC stands at the forefront of the fight for the issues and interests of the Black Community.

Throughout its history, the CBC has been known as the Conscience of the Congress, a distinction that has never been more important than it is at this time in history.