Georgia Legislative Black Caucus’ Annual Conference –  Celebrating 50 years of Service

The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus held its Annual Conference over the weekend in Savannah. This year’s theme for the conference was “A Call to Action” and was deemed fitting as the caucus has been on the front line calling out injustices in Georgia and around the country. Recognized as one of the largest Black caucuses in the nation, the GLBC advocates for the needs and concerns of Black Georgians.  

Chaired by State Rep. Carl Gilliard (D-Savannah), the conference featured a number of forums, workshops, strategic panels and more that were designed to provide information and advocacy to help Georgians go back and make a difference in their communities.

The three-day event, honoring 50 years of the GLBC, had a series of speakers and panels centered around the caucus’s mission of protecting the general welfare of Black and other people of color across the state.

A host of topics were discussed including health care, voter education, the criminal justice system, agriculture and economics, and the economic impact of African Diaspora, developing young leaders and minority contract participation. 

Gillard said the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus has been coming together for 50 years to talk about making the Peach State better. In attendance and representing our South Cobb Community were State Rep. Terry A. Cummings who represents the 39th District and State Senator Michael “Doc” Rhett, who represents District 33. 

The conference was kicked off with a presentation from the Atlanta Urban League on the “State of Black Georgia”. Conference attendees were also able to hear from judges, lawyers, and district attorneys during a Black Roundtable.

Day two of the conference included a unity prayer breakfast with guest speaker Bishop Reginald Jackson.

Panels followed the breakfast and included topics such as voting rights, criminal justice, and healthcare access. Former Atlanta Mayor headlined a luncheon that honored powerful Black women in Georgia.

The evening Gala featured a powerful speech from Congressman Jonathan Jackson, representative of Chicago and son of legendary civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson. Jackson inspired the attendees with powerful remarks as he laid out a path forward for the legislators and the community.

His stirring comments were reflective of many of the issues Black Americans are facing today and why we must not stop and that we must continue in the fight for Civil Rights in 2023 with recent decisions made by the Courts regarding affirmative action and insulting education mandates from Florida that students be taught that Blacks benefited from slavery, among other disturbing topics being pushed to rewrite the horrors of slavery. 

The conference ended Sunday with a worship service at First African Baptist Church, where Rep Gilliard was the guest speaker.