National Congress of Black Women

The National Congress of Black Women, Inc. (NCBW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984, dedicated to the educational, political, economic and cultural development of African American women and their families. NCBW also serves as a non-partisan voice and instrument on issues pertaining to the appointment of African American women at all levels of government, and to increase African American women's participation in the educational, political, economic and social arenas. Currently, NCBW provides opportunities for women for leadership and decision-making positions in government, nonprofit organizations and the private sector.

Official Seal of the National Congress of Black Women depiction of Sojourner Truth

Their mission is to educate youth on the responsibilities of good citizenship and the importance of engaging the political process, while also providing opportunities for internships and other learning experiences at the local, state, national and global levels.

The National Congress of Black Women's founding chairs were Shirley Chisholm and Dr. C. Delores Tucker. Chisholm was an educator, author, and politician. She became the first African American woman elected in Congress in 1968 and in 1972, became the first African American woman to make a serious bid to run for President of the United States. Tucker was the first African American woman to serve as Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the first African-American woman to serve as secretary of a U.S. state government. Other notable NCBW founders include Dr. Dorothy Height and Coretta Scott King. The current chair of the organization is Dr. E.Faye Williams, Esq.[1][2]

The National Congress of Black Women commissioned Artis Lane to create a bronze bust portraying Sojourner Truth, women's-right advocate and abolitionist. The bust was unveiled on April 28, 2009, by First Lady Michelle Obama for permanent display in the Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitor Centre. Acclaimed actress Cicely Tyson performed Truth's "Ain't I a Woman?" speech.[3][4][5][6][7]

The founding members included Hon. C. DeLores Tucker, Convening Founder Hon. Shirley Chisholm, Chair Emeritus Rev. Willie Barrow, Lezli Baskerville, Esq., Dr. Mary Berry, Hon. Cardiss Collins, Dr. Dorothy I. Height, Hon. Alexis Herman, Hon. Charlene Drew Jarvis, Coretta Scott King, Hon. Gloria Lawlah, Hon. Hilda Mason, Jewell Jackson McCabe, Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Hon. Wilhelmina J. Rolark, Esq., Hon. Mary Terrell, Esq., Pat Tyson, Hon. Shirley Wilcher, and Hon. Nadine Winter.

References
  1. "National Congress of Black Women to honor Shirley Chisholm". New Pittsburgh Courier. 2019-09-11. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  2. "Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2 - SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS". www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  3. "L.A. artist's 'Truth' to be unveiled". Los Angeles Times. 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  4. "A & E Archives - Page 35 of 36". The Hartford Guardian. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  5. "New bust at U.S. Capitol honors Sojourner Truth". The Denver Post. Associated Press. 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  6. "Artis Lane, the Artist Without Boundaries". Los Angeles Sentinel. 2009-05-07. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  7. "Truth comes to the U.S. Capitol - CNN.com". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
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