able to speak backstage to this year's phoenix award honorees, judith jamison, harry belafonte, sheila oliversimeon booker. thank you for everything that you've done for america. [applause] i know you've spent a good deal of time during cbc weekend talking about a whole range of issues, and talking about what the future holds not just for the african american community, but for the united states of america. i've been spending some time thinking about that, too. [laughter] and at this time of great challenge, one source of inspiration is the story behind the founding of the congressional black caucus. i want us to all take a moment and remember what was happening 40 years ago when 13 black members of congress decided to come together and form this caucus. it was 1969. more than a decade had passed since the supreme court decided brown versus board of education. it had been years since selma and montgomery, since dr. king had told america of his dream -- all of it culminating in the passage of the civil rights act and the voting rights act. the founders of this caucus could look back and feel p

great honor to be able to speak backstage to this year's phoenix award honorees, harry belafonte, sheila oliverand others. thank you for all that you have done for america. i know you have spent a good deal of time during cbc weekend, talking about a whole range of issues and talking about what the future holds not just for the african-american community but for the united states of america. i have been spending some time thinking about that, too. and at this time, a great challenge, one source of inspiration is a story behind the founding of the congressional black caucus. i want us all to take a moment and remember what was happening 40 years ago wrote -- 40 years ago, when 14 black members of congress decided to come together and form this congress. it was 1969. more than one decade had passed since the supreme court decided brown vs. the board of education. it had been years since selma, since dr. king had told america it of his dream, all of the culminating in the passage of the civil rights act and the voting rights act. the founders of this caucus could look but and feel vote -- look bac