CBCF to Present Commemorative Book Highlighting Influence of Black Lawmakers
“Continuing the Legacy: A Salute to the Congressional Black Caucus of the 110th Congress” to Premiere at 38th Annual Legislative Conference; Advance Orders Available Online

WASHINGTON – The legacy of our nation’s black lawmakers dates back to Reconstruction and emerged in full force when 13 courageous souls founded the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971. Today, CBC members have unprecedented influence in the Congress. Several serve as chairmen of key committees in the House of Representatives, while many more lead House subcommittees. Another member, Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, is the House majority whip, and the lone black U.S. senator, Barack Obama of Illinois, is the 2008 Democratic nominee for president.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) has produced a new publication, “Continuing the Legacy: A Salute to the Congressional Black Caucus of the 110th Congress,” to commemorate this historic two years for the CBC. The 160-page, hardcover, coffee-table-style book will debut on Saturday, September 27, at the Annual Awards Dinner of the 38th Annual Legislative Conference.

Produced by CBCF, ALC ’08 will begin on Wednesday, September 24 and be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in the nation’s capital. More than 18,000 people focusing on issues impacting African Americans and the African diaspora attend ALC each year. The four-day conference is headlined by the 42 members of the CBC and features dozens of policy forums, general sessions, exhibits, a job fair, book signings and networking opportunities. It ends with the star-studded awards dinner and an after-dinner gala. Registrants include elected officials, business and industry leaders, celebrities, media, emerging leaders and everyday Americans.

“Continuing the Legacy” offers a list of the CBC’s major accomplishments during the 110th Congress and a look at the work of Rep. Clyburn as majority whip and the CBC members chosen to lead full House Committees. They include Reps. John Conyers Jr. of Michigan (Judiciary), Charles B. Rangel of New York (Ways and Means), Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi (Homeland Security), the late Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio (Standards of Official Conduct) and the late Juanita Millender-McDonald of California (Administration). The book is dedicated to the memory of Rep. Tubbs Jones, who like Rep. Millender-McDonald, served on CBCF’s Board of Directors.

“Continuing the Legacy” also features a look at the duties and accomplishments of the 18 CBC members serving as chairmen of congressional subcommittees – the highest number ever.

The book includes a review of Rep. Carolyn C. Kilpatrick of Michigan, the caucus’ 20th chairperson and a message from Rep. Kendrick B. Meek of Florida, the CBCF Board Chairman.

“Many of the issues championed by the CBC are issues aligned with CBCF’s mission,” Rep. Meek writes in his message. “We have prepared ‘Continuing the Legacy’ to capture the impact of having so many CBC members serving in key leadership posts. We proudly offer this book as a keepsake for CBC members, their families and friends, our corporate partners, historians and the public.”

“Continuing the Legacy” presents six essays examining the contributions of the CBC and its members during this session in matters important to African Americans and the country.

The essay subjects and essayists include criminal justice by Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., CBCF’s president and chief executive officer; economic development by Maya Rockeymoore, Ph.D., a political scientist, author and alumna of CBCF’s congressional fellowship program; education by Stephanie J. Jones, J.D., executive director of the National Urban League Policy Institute; international affairs by Ronald W. Walters, Ph.D., professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland; public health by Ronald L. Braithwaite, Ph.D., a professor of community health and preventative medicine at the Morehouse School of Medicine, and Marjorie A. Innocent, Ph.D., CBCF’s director of research and programs; and the 2008 election, by Ivory A. Toldson, Ph.D., a CBCF senior research analyst and an assistant professor of education at Howard University.

The publication provides an insider’s perspective by George Dalley, J.D., a respected Capitol Hill staffer now on his third stint as Rep. Rangel’s chief of staff; and a foreword by William H. Gray III, the former Pennsylvania congressman who served as House Majority Whip from 1989 to 1991.

It also features more than 75 photographs capturing the CBC members in their congressional and leadership roles, a complete CBC roster and a review of the caucus’ achievements since 1971.

“Continuing the Legacy” complements CBCF’s virtual library project, Avoice: African American Voices in Congress, an award-winning Web site at www.avoiceonline.org which serves as the guardian of the African-American legislative history, Dr. Scott said.

“Just as Avoice traces the paths blazed by black members of Congress as far back as Reconstruction, we hope our new book helps everyone to better appreciate, now and forever, how influential and successful the current group of black lawmakers has been these two years,” she said.

“Continuing the Legacy” was edited by Herbert Lowe, CBCF’s director of communications, a former newspaper reporter and a past president of the National Association of Black Journalists.

“This book shows that the Congressional Black Caucus continues to serve as the ‘conscience of the Congress,’ even as its members amass more power and influence individually,” Lowe said. “It truly has been a privilege to be a part of this effort to chronicle their hard work and achievements.”

Advance sales of “Continuing the Legacy” are available at www.cbcfinc.org/cbcbook. It also may be purchased immediately after the Awards Dinner at ALC ’08.

To register for ALC ’08, visit www.alc2008.org or call the ALC Hotline at (202) 263-5708.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc. (CBCF) was established in 1976 as a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy, research and educational institute intended to broaden and elevate the influence of African Americans in the political, legislative and public policy arenas.