Reflections on the Congressional Black Caucus Weekend

I had a wonderful opportunity this weekend to attend the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference at the D.C. Convention Center, and what a pleasant affair it was!  The highlight came for me when I shook the hand of Barack Obama after he delivered an electrifying speech at the $700 a plate (I knew someone ya’ll) black tie dinner on Saturday night.

Now in the past, I’ve always looked upon these kind of events as just another chance for the Black Bourgeoisie to flaunt their wealth and status, and in the evenings get their groove on. However today I see things completely differently, and have come to understand the need of every people to celebrate their successes and engage in pageantry. How much more so for African Americans, who have come from so little to achieve so much.

At that dinner there were literally hundreds of people - Black people - who earn more than a hundred thousand dollars a year! There I was, surrounded by some of the most powerful people in America, -  Governors, Congressmen and women, State Legislators, Business Executives, and even a potential future President -  almost all of them of African descent. Not only that, but I also observed that these descendants of slaves were being protected by the most elite security apparatus in the world, the United States Secret Service.

There I was thinking to myself, what would the “Founding Fathers” say if they could see these dignified Black citizens -not even 150 years removed from slavery - being guarded by the unit usually reserved for the President of the country, and possibly containing of some of their own descendants. It was something I had always taken for granted and never fully appreciated. Not that I didn’t know it before, but it only confirmed for me again the greatness of this country and my desire to live nowhere else.

Attending the CBC Weekend also helped me to realize that I need to step up my game. This is where I need to be on the regular, around successful, educated African Americans working to make a difference in the community. Sure, there’s some foolishness that takes place at these events – I know that. But serious work is also done, with thousands of dollars raised for scholarships as just one example.

So yes, as you have probably surmised by now, I WANT IN!