WASHINGTON – The Congressional Black Caucus’ annual legislative conference in Washington is a nonstop cavalcade of programs, panel discussions, workshops, job fairs, ultraexclusive receptions and upscale parties.
It takes some endurance and willingness to be sleep deprived to attend many of the provocative and hot-button programs, stroll through the author’s pavilion, partake in debates and discussions and still have enough in the reserves to roll to the many receptions and parties that punctuate the 40th annual convention — then to get back up early the next morning and repeat the process for 72 hours.
Thursday: We landed at the Washington Reagan National Airport in northern Virginia. You can take a cab or subway for the quick ride over the Potomac River into downtown Washington.
We stayed at the four-star Capitol Hilton, a nine-block walk to the Washington Convention Center where the CBC’s conference is held every year.
I attended the National Association of Black-Owned Broadcasters convened at the upscale Ritz Carlton in the Georgetown section of northwest Washington. Elite black marketing agencies discussed the current plight and future of America’s urban radio stations.
The Congressional Black Caucus conference represents the largest gathering, by far, of black legislators, educators and policy people in the country.
Thurs.–Sat.: Tens of thousands of CBC conventioneers, predominantly African American (although a healthy dose of other minorities and whites were sprinkled liberally within the throngs) attend hundreds of events, panels, workshops and programs that go on concurrently at the Washington Convention Center, a few blocks from the White House. There was also an author’s pavilion on the upper level.
Friday night: I attended the Jesse Jackson Jr. exclusive reception and party at the popular The Park at Fourteenth. Well, it wasn’t that exclusive because the three floors of this well-designed yet small nightclub were bulging with humanity.
Saturday: The Phoenix Awards, the CBC’s signature gala, unofficially closes the weeklong activities.
At 3:30 p.m. Saturday all conventioneers and employees were ordered to vacate the Washington Convention Center so that the Secret Service could do its security sweep in anticipation for President Barack Obama’s keynote address.
4 p.m.: The media was instructed to convene in the lobby area of the Washington Convention Center. And that rendezvous sets off a standing and waiting marathon. From there it becomes a war of attrition and physical endurance as the waiting seems to go on forever. We have to follow specific instructions and receive our special White House media badges in order to get in proximity of President Obama.
6 p.m.: After a seeming unending time on our feet, some of us in the media finally got a merciful reprieve. A small contingent, including rolling out, was told we were given special clearance to attend the exclusive reception that preceded the Phoenix Awards. Celebrities and dignitaries in attendance included, actor-singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte; actor Chris Tucker; and retired NBA great Dominique Wilkins.
7 p.m.: After going through a series of Secret Service checks and checkpoints, we were escorted to the VIP reception where we took pictures of dignitaries and celebrities. Afterward, we were escorted into the Phoenix Awards gala in the cavernous dinner hall.
8:45 p.m.: President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama appear at the Phoenix Awards gala for the third year in a row.
9:15 p.m.: Obama’s rousing speech is complete and more than half of the 4,000 strong dinner attendants emptied into the crisp night air.
10 p.m.: The California afterparty was one of a multiplicity of grandiose events held by state representatives and delegates. –terry shropshire
