Del. Leg. Black Caucus hold “Unapologetically Black” event at DSU

Delaware State University hosted a Feb. 10 Delaware Legislative Black Caucus event entitled “The Agenda: Unapologetically Black.”

The event – in which the attending public filled the entire second-floor parlors of the MLK Jr. Student Center – featured members of the Black Caucus in an afternoon of discussions that covered topics such as economic empowerment, safety and justice, health and wellness, education, housing, infrastructure, and the environment.

State Rep. Kendra Johnson, Chair of the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus, said the event recognized the beauty, brilliance, and resiliency of Black people.

“It is also a call to action, to have these conversations about what is happening in our community, to educate constituents, and to also say ‘come and join us,’” Rep. Johnson said. “Because as your legislators, we cannot do this alone.” She added that whether it is housing initiatives, economic development, education, or other issues that need to be addressed in the First State, the public needs to get involved “and be supportive of what needs to happen here in our beautiful state.”

The event also provided attendees with information about the legislative accomplishment of the General Assembly’s Black Caucus. “It started with our Justice for All agenda in June 2020,” Rep. Johnson said. “More than 14 pieces of legislation has been passed as a result of our Justice for All agenda.”

In addition to Rep. Johnson, the state elected officials participating in the Unapologetically Black event included Rep. Stephanie T. Bolden, Sen. Darius Brown, Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha, Rep. Franklin Cook, Rep. and House Majority Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris, Rep. Elizabeth Lockman, Rep. Sharae’a Moore, Rep. Sophie Phillips, Sen. Marie Pinkney, and Rep. Kamela Smith.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester also addressed the gathering via video.

The afternoon ended with a panel discussion on “The State of Black Delaware.” In addition to Rep. Bolden, the participants included Fleur McKendell, President of the State Chapter of the NAACP; Jennifer Thompkins, President/CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League; Vere O. Archibald, a DuPont Experimental Station Site Leader;’ Jane Hovington, President of the Richard Allen Coalition; Dr. Kimeu Boynton, and Assistant Dean of the DSU College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences.

The Racial Equity Consortium, with the support of DSU and the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, also co-sponsored the event.