#NNPA BlackPress

AFRO Exclusive: Congressman John Lewis Kicks off CBC Week

THE AFRO — Just a day before the bustling streets of downtown D.C. becomes a hub and homecoming for Black politicians, businessmen and go-getters, The Delegate rooftop restaurant was filled with African American professionals excited to party with a purpose, prior to the official kickoff of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Annual Legislative Conference 2019. One of the Black politicians who made his way to The Delegate was civil rights hero, Congressman John Lewis (D-GA).

Published

5 years ago

September 13, 2019

Oakland Post

Rep. John Lewis

By Micha Green

Just a day before the bustling streets of downtown D.C. becomes a hub and homecoming for Black politicians, businessmen and go-getters, The Delegate rooftop restaurant was filled with African American professionals excited to party with a purpose, prior to the official kickoff of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Annual Legislative Conference 2019. One of the Black politicians who made his way to The Delegate was civil rights hero, Congressman John Lewis (D-GA).

Blu Tuesday, an event that happens every other month at posh spots in the D.C. area, is a networking opportunity for Black professionals to mingle after five, while building their brands and expanding their contacts. September’s Blu Tuesday was the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) edition, tactfully held at a venue located at the Courtyard Marriot/ Residence Inn Washington Convention Center, a hotel right in the heart of what was sure to be buzzing with CBC excitement 12 hours later.

“So with the Congressional Black Caucus occurring this week, it was imperative that we would host a Blu Tuesday, bringing together urban and suburban professionals for the sole purpose of networking– building that empire one person at a time, increasing that network and that’s why we’re here tonight,” said Dexter Greene, an insurance agent and host of Blu Tuesday.

Rep. Lewis served as the evening’s honored guest and speaker.

“Congressman Lewis is a civil rights icon. He stood at the mall [at the March] on Washington when Martin Luther King gave his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. And he talked about freedom and about where we can be in the future, and while we have a struggle there’s a lot that we have accomplished. And for me he was the perfect Congressman to represent how far we’ve come,” Greene told the AFRO.

Lewis sat down with the AFRO for an exclusive interview to discuss the goals of the 2019 CBCF Annual Legislative Conference (ALC).

“More than anything, we are focused on getting people ready and prepared for the election of 2020. We want people to turn out and vote like they never voted before. And encourage as many people who would like to get involved in American politics to work and campaign, to run for office and to be determined now more than ever before,” Lewis told the AFRO. “As I’ve said before there are forces of people that want to take us back. We’ve come too far. We’ve made too much progress to go back. We want to go forward.”

In addition to gearing up for the election of 2020, Lewis said this year’s ALC would recognize the 400th anniversary of Africans forced journey and arrival to America as slaves.

“Many members of the Caucus returned from spending time in Accra, Ghana. We cried like babies. We went in the dungeon, went through the doors of no return. And to know that our forefathers and foremothers came in those ships, and some people never made it. They never made it; they were thrown overboard,” Lewis said with passion. “But despite everything, we are survivors and today we see lawyers, and doctors, teachers, scientists, successful businessmen and businesswomen. We see brave and bold people serving in the military, flying airplanes, working on ships, working as doctors and scientists, so we have a bright future, I think as a people and as a nation.”

Despite challenges and division in the United States, the Congressman remains confident that change will come.

“So I see unbelievable changes, and I say to young people all the time, ‘Never become bitter. Keep the faith and keep your eyes on the prize. “We all shall overcome,” Lewis told the AFRO.

The Congressman and Presidential Medal of Freedom awardee considered teachings from his friend and close colleague in the fight for justice, as he closed his conversation with the AFRO.

“I think we all have to be hopeful and be optimistic and never, ever get down or become hostile. And never hate, for hate is too heavy a burden to bear. That’s what Dr. King taught us.”

This article originally appeared in The Afro.

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#LET IT BE KNOWN — LIVE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

Published

3 weeks ago

August 20, 2024

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Democrats Call for Fierce Defense of Democracy and Working-Class Values

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Democrats from all political backgrounds came together to honor President Biden’s legacy, which includes unwavering efforts to reduce costs for middle-class Americans, repair a deteriorating infrastructure, and defend democracy from unprecedented threats.

Published

3 weeks ago

August 20, 2024

Oakland Post

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

In an electrifying moment at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) that likely set the tone for the party’s campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on the opening night, seizing the stage to the triumphant anthem of Beyoncé’s “Freedom.” The crowd erupted with fire in her voice as Harris declared, “I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden. Thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation, and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you.” The first night of the DNC was more than a celebration; it was a battle cry. Democrats from all political backgrounds came together to honor President Biden’s legacy, which includes unwavering efforts to reduce costs for middle-class Americans, repair a deteriorating infrastructure, and defend democracy from unprecedented threats. The message was clear: Biden’s work is not done, and Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz are ready to continue that fight.

Speakers who are most familiar with Biden, such as Senators Raphael Warnock and Chris Coons, as well as Dr. Jill Biden and Ashley Biden, shared stories that painted a picture of a president who is unwaveringly dedicated to the American people. “In public and in private, President Biden never backed down from his vision for an America where everyone has a fair shot,” Warnock emphasized. Dr. Biden and Ashley Biden gave heartfelt tributes to the man who led the nation and his family with steadfast devotion. The emotional high point of the evening came when Biden, introduced by his daughter Ashley, took the stage to a thunderous ovation as “Your Love Has Lifted Me Higher” filled the arena. The crowd’s response was deafening, with chants of “We love Joe” and “Thank You, Joe” reverberating throughout the hall, a powerful testament to Biden’s connection with the American people.

In a speech that was as much a rallying cry as it was a reflection on his presidency, Biden delivered a stark reminder of what’s at stake. “Let me ask you… Are you ready to vote for freedom? Are you ready to vote for democracy and America? Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?” Biden’s words resonated as he recalled the perilous moment of his inauguration, just weeks after supporters of the twice-impeached former president stormed the U.S. Capitol. “You cannot say I love my country only when you win,” Biden asserted. “The winter of peril and possibility has passed, and with a grateful heart, I stand before you to report that democracy has prevailed. But now, democracy must be preserved.” Biden highlighted the progress made under his administration, pointing to economic recovery, healthcare expansion, and the battle against corporate greed. He singled out Harris’s critical role in these achievements. “We’ve gone from economic crisis to the strongest economy in the world… More Americans have health insurance than at any time in American history. And we finally beat big pharma. Guess who cast the tie-breaking vote? Vice President and soon-to-be President Kamala Harris. Now it’s the law of the land—$35 a month for insulin.”

The evening was charged with passionate speeches that struck the heart of the nation’s issues. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a searing indictment of Donald Trump, contrasting Harris’s steadfast dedication to American values with Trump’s chaotic legacy. “Kamala won’t disrespect our military and our veterans,” Clinton declared to thunderous applause. “She will defend democracy and our Constitution and will protect America from enemies foreign and domestic. Donald Trump fell asleep at his own trial, and when he woke up, he made history as the first person to run for president with 34 felony convictions.” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a fiery endorsement of Harris, framing her as the champion of the middle-class needs. “In Kamala Harris, we have a chance to elect a president who is for the middle class because she is from the middle class,” Ocasio-Cortez proclaimed. “She understands the urgency of rent checks, groceries, and prescriptions. She is as committed to our reproductive and civil rights as she is to taking on corporate greed. She is working tirelessly to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and bring hostages home.”

Ocasio-Cortez didn’t hold back in her critique of Trump, accusing him of being a self-serving demagogue. “Donald Trump would sell this country for a dollar if it meant lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends,” she said. “I, for one, am tired of hearing about how a two-bit union buster thinks of himself as more of a patriot than the woman who fights every single day to lift working people out from under the boots of greed trampling on our way of life.” The night was filled with moments that galvanized the crowd. Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr, invoking the words of Steph Curry, declared, “After the results are tallied that night, we can tell Donald Trump, ‘Night, night.’“UAW President Shawn Fain tore off his jacket to reveal a shirt emblazoned with the words “TRUMP IS A SCAB,” igniting the crowd into a fervent chant of “Trump’s a scab! Trump’s a scab!”

In one of the night’s most pointed moments, Rep. Jasmine Crockett drew a stark contrast between Harris and Trump: “She became a career prosecutor while he became a career criminal. Who would you hire? Donald Trump or Kamala Harris? Kamala Harris has a resume, and Donald Trump has a rap sheet with 34 felonies, 2 impeachments, and 1 porn star to prove it.” The NAACP President Derrick Johnson and Melanie Campbell, the President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, led a standing ovation for civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson during the celebration.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also delivered a powerful message that resonated deeply with the audience. “I know that my daughter will see not only a reflection of herself in the White House, but she will experience the deepest part of American values… Kamala Harris—she’s got us.” Harris’s words from earlier in the night echoed as the event ended: “We are at a pivotal moment. The choices we make now will determine the future of our nation. Together, we will fight for the soul of America and build a future where everyone has a fair shot. Our best days are still ahead, and we are ready to lead.”