The Afro American Newspaper
The Afro American Newspaper: "WASHINGTON (NNPA) – The normally glitzy parties during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislation Conference will be scaled back this year out of respect for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, say CBC and CBC Foundation leaders. On the other hand, because of the hurricane tragedy along the gulf coast, issues forums are expected to heat up.
“It’s very difficult to talk about having major black tie events at a time when people are suffering, so one of the first things we decided to do was rather than have our annual gala be black tie and gowns, we’re going to allow people to come and wear whatever they want to wear, suit and tie, no tie. We felt that would give a more somber tone to the event. We’re not trying to make this thing gala,” says CBCF President and Chief Executive Don Tharpe.
On the other hand, the economic and social equity agenda of the CBC has been illuminated by the devastation to the mostly Black hurricane victims. Therefore, many of the string of issues forums and brain trusts at the 35th ALC will incorporate the hurricane tragedy, likely heating up discussions, says CBC Chairman Mel Watt (D-N.C.).
“One of the things that Katrina demonstrated more substantially than anything was that poor people -- who happened to be disproportionately African-American -- were not able to, because of their financial condition, get out of the way of the storm; whereas other people who were higher income were able to get out of the way of it,” says Watt. “So, there are aspects to this that reinforces what a number of our forums were dealing with anyway.”
For example, the National Town Hall meeting on Thursday, is themed “Eradicating Poverty: Removing the Disparities vs. the Innate Drive for Survival and Success,” according to the preprinted schedule."
“It’s very difficult to talk about having major black tie events at a time when people are suffering, so one of the first things we decided to do was rather than have our annual gala be black tie and gowns, we’re going to allow people to come and wear whatever they want to wear, suit and tie, no tie. We felt that would give a more somber tone to the event. We’re not trying to make this thing gala,” says CBCF President and Chief Executive Don Tharpe.
On the other hand, the economic and social equity agenda of the CBC has been illuminated by the devastation to the mostly Black hurricane victims. Therefore, many of the string of issues forums and brain trusts at the 35th ALC will incorporate the hurricane tragedy, likely heating up discussions, says CBC Chairman Mel Watt (D-N.C.).
“One of the things that Katrina demonstrated more substantially than anything was that poor people -- who happened to be disproportionately African-American -- were not able to, because of their financial condition, get out of the way of the storm; whereas other people who were higher income were able to get out of the way of it,” says Watt. “So, there are aspects to this that reinforces what a number of our forums were dealing with anyway.”
For example, the National Town Hall meeting on Thursday, is themed “Eradicating Poverty: Removing the Disparities vs. the Innate Drive for Survival and Success,” according to the preprinted schedule."
posted by Blackgold at 9:48 PM
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