Cleaver to head Congressional Black Caucus

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo, took the reins of the Congressional Black Caucus this week and delivered the following speech:

This is truly a great moment in the 40-year history of the Congressional Black Caucus, and to my colleagues I must say that I am humbled that you have chosen me to lead as the 22nd Chairman of this great body during such a time as this. Thank you all for being here this morning and reaffirming your support for our beloved caucus and celebrating our legacy during this monumental occasion. To the Cabinet Members, House Leadership, Community Leaders, and other stakeholders, thank you for being here and for the critical work you do to make our nation stronger, better, just and fair. I also must thank my family—wife, Dianne, my father, my children, and grandchildren who are present today. They have sacrificed so much to allow me to serve in Congress and continue to be understanding as I dedicate the next two years towards leading this great body.


Standing before the vast numbers here today, we the Congressional Black Caucus of the 112th Congress are inspired and filled with robust hunger to defend the advances made by those who so ably and vigorously toiled in these hallowed halls long before most of us arrived. They ran the race and the race is continuing in us. What a company! Their names set any African American heart to beating faster: Conyers, Rangel, Stokes, Mitchell, Chisholm, Jordan, Clay, Hawkins, Nix, Metcalfe, Collins, Diggs, and Fauntroy--these are the heroes of our history. They were courtiers who practiced statecraft at a level which brought about socio/political changes that laid the foundation to make the promise of America the practice of America. And we will devotedly and unwaveringly follow their example of bold and prophetic work.

As the incoming CBC chair, there is great hope that I will, as every Chair before me, move forward the uncompromised agenda of this body. To the chairs whom I observed since my election to Congress a mere six years ago, Elijah Cummings, Mel Watt, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick and my tutor, Oakland, California’s Barbara Lee, please know that I will not allow pride to prevent me from imitating the best of what I have seen in each of you.

There shall be no confusion; I assume this job humbly. In fact, when I considered the vastness of the challenges ahead, I can’t help but to chant the prayer of the old Breton fisherman when he took his little craft upon the roaring ocean: “Oh, My God…my boat is so small and the sea is so great.” Nevertheless, all anxiety is cast away by the flame from the lamps of my 42 colleagues.

We’re at a critical point in our nation’s history, but as African Americans we lived the bitterness of slavery and oppression, held on to the hope of progress, and for generations many reached for, and in countless cases, achieved the American Dream. We are in no ways tired. From the chains of slavery, to the picket lines in Selma, and to the highest office in the land -- we’ve climbed the great ladder but still, yet still there is more work to be done.

For the past 40 years, the Congressional Black Caucus has continued to fight the good fight. The CBC has been involved in a myriad of legislative initiatives ranging from full employment to welfare reform, South African apartheid and international human rights, from minority business development to expanded educational opportunities. It’s always been our mission as a Caucus to preserve a national commitment to fair treatment for urban and rural America, the elderly, students, small business, middle and low income families, and the economically disadvantaged—to give voice to the voiceless.

Forty years since our founding we have been successful in rising to strategic positions on Congressional Committees to affect change in federal policies, and now to the highest office within our Nation—President Barack Obama our first member elected President of the United States. Never have we been afraid to tackle the most serious social issues earning the reputation as the “Conscience of the Congress”. I stand before you today to tout our historic accomplishments and share a vision of what’s to come.

If WE don’t tell our own story, who will?

It’s time we stand and declare who we are. During the 111th Congress CBC Members held four Committee Chairs, eighteen Subcommittee Chairs. We are Freedom Fighters, Justice Seekers, Equalizers and Pursuers of the American Dream for all Americans regardless of race, color, or creed.

We stand for:

Parity in economic opportunity for ALL Americans;

We stand for equality in education;

We stand for access to healthcare for ALL Americans; and

We stand for reclaiming the American dream for ALL.

The question raised by many who misunderstand including some in the media is the following: Is the Congressional Black Caucus relevant in this “post racial” era? To that spectacular assertion, I must politely say, come again?

The long and laborious march toward a society that cares not about the issues of race will eventually arrive at its destination. But today is not that day.

To be sure, there will come a day when the people of this nation see other Americans of different backgrounds with their hearts instead of their eyes, prejudices, and fears—but today is not that day.

When that day does arrive, and it is surely near, when all Americans have to discover new truths about each other … At long last, lingering prejudices subside and we will have a post racial nation—but today is not the day.

It is important that we obliterate such a longed for and sublime truth about our country’s race relations, because the failure to do so prevents us from engaging in demanding, but necessary work.

Clearly we have come a long way, but our work is far from over. We have so much more to accomplish before we rest. Nevertheless, to paraphrase the poet, Robert Frost “We have miles and miles to go before we have sleep, and miles and miles to go before we sleep.

Had we slept during the 111th Congress, there would not be a section 342 to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act, which created the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion in each Federal financial services agency.

Had we slept, there would be NO Fair Sentencing Act reducing sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.

Had we slept, African American farmers would still be waiting for the $1.15 billion that has been owed to them for over a decade from the Pigford settlement.

Had we slept, there would be NO American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which injected nearly $800 billion dollars into our economy that helped families, small businesses and our workforce, and saved this nation from another Great Depression.

Had we slept – there would be a major gap in funding for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions that need it, nor would there be an increase to the Pell Grant program that affords so many of our nation’s children the opportunity to receive higher education.

Had we slept, there would be no health care reform.

And throughout this 112th Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus will continue the good fight.

Others have questioned our commitment to the Obama administration. Let it be clear. We unequivocally support our President, Barack Obama. We are strong supporters and partners with this White House and although there have been times and there might be others where we disagree, unlike some - we want our President to succeed and we'll do all in our power to ensure that he does.

The CBC is prepared and ready to reclaim the dream for our communities and constituencies. We’ve worked too hard and come too far to turn back now and as we enter into our 40th year of existence it has become evident that we are the guards. Guarding the change we have fought for means protecting the people and the progress we have made. We will continue to work hard as a collective to ensure that the obstacles we encountered cease to exist for the next generation.

And as I lead the CBC through the next uncertain and precarious years, I am not afraid. I’ve got 42 fighters on my side. I’ve got justice, equality, fairness, opportunity and good as my armor—I know we are prepared for the charge.

Congress at its worst demands a Congressional Black Caucus at its best. We recognize that some in the United States House of Representatives choose a divisive and discordant modus operandi. Sadly, The People’s House has become a bitter, baleful, and venomous venue for unresolved squabbles over a super abundance of issues, which could well determine the social and economic survival, of not only our nation but that of the rest of the world. As a result of the coarse and offensive communication between members, Congress is far from presenting a picture of civility or exhibiting a willingness to work together to solve seemingly unappeasable problems. In this bewildering fog of political tribalism and instantaneous instigation by the media, and fact free debate, the Congressional Black Caucus will embrace its historic mission.

Let the word go forth that the CBC is not here to make enemies. We are elected to make to a difference. We didn’t come to pick fights but we came to defend what is right and what is just for our communities. We didn’t come to be exclusive, but we did; however, come to fight for inclusion and parity.

Are we relevant? The answer is yes. The Congressional Black Caucus will be relevant as long as we continue to have work to do. As long as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, we are relevant. As long as our communities suffer a depression while the rest of America experiences a recession—we are relevant. As long as the first recommendations presented by our Caucus to President Nixon in March of 1971 have some relevancy to the state of our union, WE are relevant. As millions continually call out to “take their country back”, the Caucus stands ready to continue our work in creating a nation for all Americans, black, white, rich, poor, old, young, and immigrants alike – A nation inclusive of all of God’s children. It is not YOUR country it’s all of OUR’s. We have work to do.

It’s clear that our time to stand up is now. Our time to reclaim the dream is now. We must lead the charge, we must continue on this great journey, and when all is said and done the promise of America will be no longer – for the promise will become the practice.

Thank you, God bless the Congressional Black Caucus, and God bless America.