What do you think the black community's reaction will be to a vanishing number in Congress who look like them?

[bigtree]

...like me?

When I was a young adult, there were just a few black legislators in Congress, including Ron Dellums, who died a while back at age 82. I still recall the mere handful of blacks I found in Congress when I first explored the Capitol. That didn't change quickly or a great deal over my subsequent years visiting there.

It wasn't until 1990 that we actually saw a significant influx of minorities elected to Congress, enabled by the 1990 census Democrats fought to reform and manage (along with their earlier fight for an extension of the Voting Rights Act which Bush I vetoed five times before trading his signature on the bill for votes for Clarence Thomas) which allowed court-ordered redistricting to double the number of districts with black majorities.

At any rate, I distinctly remember seeing the Rep. Ron Dellums and his nice afro, ever present on the nearly empty House floor, bouncing around here and there with a sheaf of papers in his hand. I had imagined at the time that there were many more like him in the wings, however, there were only a dozen or so black congressmen and women from the 70's to the 90's, including Rep. Dellums.

It's remarkable just how confident, capable, and determined many black folks like Ron Dellums were in that still dark, but emerging period in our history as they kept their heads well above the water; making leaps and bounds in their personal and professional lives, then, turning right around and giving it all back to their communities in the gift of their expertise and labor.

A third of the Congressional Black Caucus could lose seats amid redistricting fight
https://abcnews.com/Politics/congressional-black-caucus-lose-seats-amid-redistricting-fight/story?id=132965013

[yellowdogintexas]

1. Hopefully, swinging a Democratic Majority - a big one.

If we don't regain that majority it is just going to get worse.

[bigtree]

2. ...it's already pretty bad for the black community

...I personally resent the fact that we're about to lose the token representation we had, and that we're now entering into a period where black Americans', black communities' political influence is just disappearing altogether.

Generations slip through the cracks as politicians and parties position themselves.

Bill Clinton used to say that 'we go up or down together.'

I think that was just wishful thinking.

I fear that I will permanently lose voting rights because of this equation. I'm convinced that we're already being abandoned by Americans who can't or won't take the extra step to ensure Bill Clinton's ideal.

[yellowdogintexas]

4. no argument there. We are all going to slip through the cracks, one way or another nt

[marble falls]

3. They had better get out the vote.

[PufPuf23]

5. Ron Dellums was the best representative I ever had the honor to vote for and

has great influence on my life as a Democrat and commitment to social and environmental justice.

In 1971 I registered to vote in Contra Costa with intent of a non-religious CO. Had a very high draft lottery number. Went to many anti-war rallies in Berkeley and San Francisco beginning in 1968.

Spent about 40% of time between 1973 and 1987 living in Berkeley and Oakland while earning 2 Cal degrees and working in a Fed research lab. Have not been to the Bay Area since 1973.

Ron Dellums had always been my standard; alas never again realized even close.

Blacks have never been treated fairly after the evilness that brought many to the USA. What does one expect from a dominant culture that did not consider blacks fully human? Even when there has been progress like the repeal of slavery and the vote, there has been pull back from the gains. Shameful.

[msongs]

6. the white majority better get out, vote, and take over repub legislatures and create new districts that reflect the popu