Roger House is professor emeritus of American studies at Emerson College and the author of Blue Smoke: The Recorded Journey of Big Bill Broonzy and South End Shout: Boston's Forgotten Music Scene in the Jazz Age. His forthcoming book is Five Hundred Years of Black Self Governance, by Louisiana State University Press.
The Congressional Black Caucus has an obligation to its base—which means taking a different approach than most Democrats to the migrant crisis.The civil right leader keeps celebrating the march’s anniversary and leaning on the everlasting arms of the protest movement. But a “Black Agenda” is needed.As the dust from the Supreme Court decision settles, Black political leaders should explore a new agenda of restitution for the unjust enrichment from slavery and Jim Crow.
Now the power of the Black vote has put the state at the front of the line.President Biden’s recent summit presents a great opportunity for Black political and economic leaders to build meaningful business ties with 49 nations on the continent.Hiring Black workers to rebuild America’s infrastructure wouldn’t just be the president being a man of his word—it’s following the policy passed by Congress.Black Democrats are poised to win the state’s top jobs.