Congressional Black Caucus Made Changes BEFORE BLACK LIVES MATTER

Black Lives Matter inciting more than riots/protests

They are inciting change in America  And it affects Indian Country as well.  Native Americans now the suffering of our African American brothers and sisters, and as you will see below, our lives are intertwined.  And that's the point of this post about the Congressional Black Caucus.





APARTHEID in South Africa

South Africa was a SOVEREIGN nation that practiced Apartheid. Was that any of the United States business?   NO, absolutely not. Were we right to oppose that shameful practice, albeit very late?  YES.  But why? What made the difference in policy? The Congressional Black Caucus:

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) played a major role in the dismantling of the apartheid system in South Africa. Representative Ronald V. Dellums (D-CA) introduced the CBC's first bill concerning apartheid in 1972. Over the next 14 years, CBC members sponsored more than 15 bills concerning apartheid. Members urged the United States government to withdraw financial support from the South African government. The CBC also encouraged American universities and corporations to divest from doing business with South Africa.

Members sponsored hearings, organized rallies, and participated in protests in Washington D.C., as well as in their home districts. Their efforts, in conjunction with the efforts of community activists, students and other organizations, brought widespread attention to the racist and inhumane treatment of blacks in South Africa.

In 1985, Representative William H. Gray (D-PA) introduced H.R. 1460, a bill that prohibited loans and new investment in South Africa. Congress approved this legislation one year later, and it became known as the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986. This legislation called for a trade embargo against South Africa and the immediate divestment of American corporations

CHEROKEE FREEDMEN

Anyway you slice it, the CBC started the demise of apartheid in South Africa.  And then came Tribal Disenrollment in America's Indian Country and it had to do with Black descendants of the slaves the FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES dragged on the Trail of Tears...as property.

The Cherokee Freedmen issue was championed by Rep. Diane Watson and the CBC. They showed the same MORAL OUTRAGE on those SOVEREIGN tribes that have denied civil rights to their people, via disenrollments, terminations and now tribal apartheid of the Cherokee Nation.  This story from 2007 details that CBC support

Strangely, Senator Barack Obama was NO help to the Freedmen early on.  The rejoinder here, ouch, baby, very ouch

Without a clear understanding of the issue, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has weighed in on the side of the Cherokees by publicly opposing my legislation, H.R. 2824, which suspends U.S. relations with the Cherokees until the rights of Freedmen are restored. Sen. Obama also takes exception to a recent Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in which the caucus declares its opposition to Native American housing legislation if it does not include a provision that would prevent the Cherokee Nation from receiving any benefits or funding under the bill if the Freedmen are expelled from the tribe.

Thirty-five CBC members signed the letter, including its chairwoman, Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.).

With the support of the CBC, the 20 yeas efforts of Warrior for the Freedmen Marilyn Vann, and attorney Jon Velie, the Freedmen won their 1866 treaty rights. 

BLACK LIVES MATTER and Indian Country

That Freedmen case, may have been a tipping point in the recently decided McGirt treaty issue, the final case decided by the Supreme Court.

The same week, after social justice protests we have the rapid change of the Washington NFL team dropping the racist R***kins mascot & nickname also more than 20 years in the making.

Might we hope for another go at disenrollment  this decade and help from our black relatives?  We are intertwined in historical trauma, abuse, civil right violations, and on some reservations like my own, the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians in Temecula we have Apartheid in the U.S.  Maybe South Africa will help US defeat that.  We know poor little bused girl, Senator Kamala Harris won't.  She takes endorsement from Apartheid leader Mark Macarro, who has decimated any opposition via disenrollment.

Support justice, so we may get reinforcements in our struggle to regain our belonging....