2000 census among key issues at CBC Conference

Washington Afro-American
10-02-1998
2000 census among key issues at CBC Conference

By James Wright

Washington AFRO Staff

The upcoming 2000 census was among the main topics discussed at the 28th Annual Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference which was held at the Washington Convention Center Wednesday, Sept. 16 through Saturday, Sept. 19.

"We had a big undercount in 1990," said U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek (D-Fla.). "About five million Blacks were not counted nationwide, as opposed to 1.3 million Whites.

"That had a powerful impact in terms of how much government money went to the Black community and how much representation we have in government bodies."

Mrs. Meek, along with U.S. Rep. Eva Clayton (D-N.C.), announced that the Census Bureau will advertise in the Black media and make an allout effort to reach Blacks by going to churches, organizations and educational institutions.

The census takes on more importance, says U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), because of the strong Republican presence in the local, state and national electorates.

"We have Republican governors in states where many Blacks live," she said, "and we know that they do not have a vested interest in seeing that Blacks get a fair shake during reapportionment."

The issue forums and braintrusts that deal with financial security, getting access to capital, using the tax code to the advantage of middle and working class Americans as well as using the Internet to make money were all popular during the conference.

Other popular topics had to deal with health, affirmative action, African-American images in the media, and the race initiative.

On Saturday, Sept. 19, Rep. Waters convened a well-attended braintrust on the CIA-Drug Connection, while U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) had political experts explain the importance of the November elections.

The exhibit hall, on the top floor of the convention center, had on display government agencies, corporations, social service organizations and entrepreneurs who showed their wares to the largely affluent crowd. On one side of the hall, there was an extensive health screening clinic, where one could be tested for vision, heart disease, breast cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS.

Clinton administration officials such as Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater and Deputy Commerce Secretary Robert Mallett participated in panels related to their departments.

Special events took place around the conference. The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation saluted three departing spouses of CBC Members on Wednesday, Sept. 16. They were: Roscoe Dellums (wife of former congressman Ronald Dellums), Elaine Flake (wife of the former congressman Floyd Flake) and Jay Stokes, wife of U.S. Rep. Louis Stokes (D-Ohio).

The spouses were saluted at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

The National Political Congress of Black Women had their annual brunch on Sunday, Sept. 20, with some of the leading Black women political activists in the country.

U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) presided at the brunch. Speakers included Coretta Scott King, Dr. Dorothy Height, president emeritus and chair of the National Council of Negro Women, and U.S. Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-Calif.), who saluted Black women state legislators.

Washington, D.C. officials who participated were: D.C. Mayor Marion Barry and D.C. City Council chair Linda Cropp (D). Honored were: D.C. City Councilwoman Hilda Mason (Statehood-At Large), Alma Powell and Elayne Bennett, and poet-author Maya Angel???u. The latter brought the crowd cheering to its feet with her speech. Also on the program were singers Melba Moore and Robin "Sugar" Williams.

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