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Ex-Congressman Chaka Fattah Sentenced to 10 Years, but His Supporters Still Question the Case Against Him
Typically, when elected officials are accused of high crimes, convicted and sentenced, their colleagues, friends and former staff vanish. But the road that brought a powerful political career to a devastating halt has been slightly different for former U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.). Some are still questioning the prosecution of the former congressman, who was sentenced…
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Was the 2016 Election Stolen by Massive Voter Suppression?
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein’s effort to recount the vote in states Donald Trump closely won continued this weekend after a brief stutter step when Stein said that she ended, but then resumed, her efforts to push a recount in Pennsylvania. Stein’s actions have been called many things—the current president-elect calls them “a scam”—but…
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CBC Picks 1 of Its Youngest Chairs Ever, While House Dems Stick With Same Old Leadership
On Wednesday, shortly after Democrats in the House of Representatives handed control again to leaders whose average age is 76, the Congressional Black Caucus chose one of its youngest chairpersons in history. The CBC selected Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), 43, over Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), 52, as its 25th chairman by a vote of 28-11.…
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7 African-American Politicians Who Will Rise in the Era of Trump
The Democratic Party just got rocked by Donald Trump, but the popular-vote totals indicate a counterargument: Hillary Clinton won over 2 million more votes than Trump. The fact is, the pendulum always swings back against the party in power in American politics, and no one stays on top for long. Over the next four years,…
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10 Black Republicans You'll Likely See Working for the Trump Administration
The surprise victory of reality-TV star and businessman Donald Trump will mean positions of power for one of the loneliest segments of the Grand Ol’ Party: black Republicans, long vilified as being political “traitors to the race.” The pressure on black Republicans who helped Trump win the presidential election was even more intense than normal…
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Resisting Trump: Jeff Sessions’ Attorney General Nomination Will Be 1st Test for 2 Black Senators
On Thursday, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) posted on Facebook a photo of Angela Davis and a quote: “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change, I’m changing the things I cannot accept.” The morning after the astounding election defeat for Democrats, Booker wrote, “This is not a time to curl up, give up…
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Congressional Black Caucus Faces Future With President-Elect Trump
The Democratic Party is in its worst shape since 1938 when it comes to seats still held in Congress. Meaning—Dems don’t have many. After losing 63 seats in the House in 2010, Democrats are again dazed and confused, this time over losing the White House to real estate mogul Donald Trump, who shockingly defeated former Secretary…
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Obama and the Congressional Black Caucus: Allies and Foes
“If Bill Clinton had been in the White House and had failed to address this problem, we probably would be marching on the White House. There is a less-volatile reaction in the CBC because nobody wants to do anything that would empower the people who hate the president.” —Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), former chairman of…
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Congressional Black Caucus Plans March to Justice Department Over Police Shootings
At their weekly Wednesday meeting, members of the Congressional Black Caucus discussed the problem of police shootings and what to do about it. “It’s become way too common, way too routine. This cannot be like business as usual anymore,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) as he left the House floor for votes Wednesday afternoon. After…
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Movement for Black Lives Coalition Lobbies on Capitol Hill
After all the criticism around “not having a plan” or specific demands, black millennial activists landed on Capitol Hill Wednesday morning to further the work laid out clearly in the Vision for Black Lives, a detailed plan of action created in collaboration with multiple social-justice organizations and community advocacy groups. The young freedom fighters and policy influencers—primarily…
