Would a Smaller Congressional Black Caucus Increase Black Political Power?
No group has benefitted greater from the creation of minority-majority U.S. congressional districts than the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). The 41 House members in CBC is its largest ever, a veritable explosion from a generation ago when fewer than 20 African Americans roamed the House as Representatives. That growth is a source of pride for many who want greater representation of Black interests. But what do we have to show for this larger CBC? If you are interested in the expansion of Black interests in public policy, then the answer to that question is simple: not much. I’m so disappointed in the CBC that I now believe a smaller CBC would be better able to pursue Black interests than the group we have now. This is certainly an instance where the adage “less is more” can actually work for Black America. Currently, all of the African American House members are Democrats in a House of Representatives that has been solidly Republican for more than a decade. While its historic and not
