Reflections on the 2009 Congressional Black Caucus

The 2009 Congressional Black Caucus gathered people from all around the nation eager to soak up the knowledge of the diverse and profound group of speakers, and network with others in the African American community. Being my first year to attend the conference, I was impressed not only by the sheer size and vastness of events, but also the quality and care put into every detail. It was a colossal presentation, yet felt incredibly personalized and arranged to be a creation of one’s own interests. One could flip through the packet of programs and fill their days accordingly, or hit the halls in search of something appealing. It was a fountain of information, and a watering hole for key players; big fish and guppies alike, feeding off of the same ambitions. Throughout the four day conference, business leaders and entrepreneurs, presidents and CEOs, politicians and professionals spoke on how to reinvest, rebuild, and renew the African American community, as was the motto. Entertainment entrepreneurs discussed blacks in the media and how to successfully brand one’s ideas (surprisingly, no one mentioned Jay-Z or Diddy). Many great discussions were woven into the theme of economic mobility for the black community, such as economic recovery and creating worthy business opportunities. Obama and Michael Jackson won the popularity contest, but other discussions on the Census Bureau, Wall Street, and judicial justice were equally enlightening. Immigration, health care (and African American health issues), education, and the economy were fundamental topics of interest. Still panels on faith, exercise, jazz, and hip hop held their own. The need for the informed to break down the issues into relevant, bite-size pieces for the average citizen is an underlining success of the conference. The moment the light bulb came on and people understood the fine print was an invaluable moment. That moment happened for me in a round table discussion for emerging leaders. An audience member referred to a recent debate she had about how the explosive “yes we can” attitude that aroused our country only a few months ago was dissipating with indifference. Was this true? Has the common American lost interest in the necessary civil discourse to remain engaged on a national level? It was a staggering thought, to imagine such passion dissolving into the ho-hum of everyday life? Fortunately, it was the consensus of this panel to disagree. They felt that people are still engaged in what is going on in Washington, and the changes happening around the country. They have not forgotten about how it feels to be counted and considered. Still they reminded us, that while folks back home may be having front porch conversations right now, but they will need to be led into action, or the conversations will eventually stop. They encouraged us to step outside of our boxes and take risks to lead others. People may try to hold you back (which means you’re doing something right), but if you have something to say and a way to articulate it, we as African Americans have to make it our time, and excel regardless. A quote that used by several speakers that expresses the 2009 Congressional Black Caucus was from Winston Churchill, who said, “Never, ever, ever, ever, ever give up.”