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Maryland politicians were among the thousands who headed to Washington, D.C. this week for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation鈥檚 52nd legislative conference.
Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-4th) hosted a panel discussion on how this summer鈥檚 U.S. Supreme Court decision on affirmative action could effect Black-owned businesses.
Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando (D) served as a panelist with a focus on how to showcase 鈥淏lack boy and men joy,鈥� even though they continue to face higher rates of incarceration, health disparities and learning loss in the classroom.
Although Jawando isn鈥檛 a member of Congress, he鈥檚 attended several conferences as an intern on Capitol Hill and while working as an aide with then-Sen. Barack Obama.
鈥淭his is always a really important time of year where we come together [alongside] people who are practicing policy, forming it, writing about it and talking about how they can improve the quality of life of Black people, which is going to improve the quality of life in America,鈥� he said in a brief interview about five minutes before his panel session. 鈥淪ome of the best ideas that are used at the local, state and federal level come out of the CBC conference.鈥�
Jawando is currently seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate to replace longtime Sen. Ben Cardin (D). He joined five other Black men that included Jabari Banks, an actor in the Peacock series 鈥淏el-Air,鈥� a reboot of 鈥淭he Fresh Prince of Bel-Air鈥� sitcom that starred Will Smith.
The panel was part of the Black Caucus Foundation鈥檚 national race equity initiative with a focus on improving the lives of Black boys.
One policy Jawando said county and state officials should fund is training, hiring and retaining Black male teachers.
According to the聽, about 6% of public schoolteachers in the 2020-2021 school year were Black. Less than 2% were Black men.
鈥淚n my entire matriculation from prekindergarten through law school, I had one Black male teacher,鈥� Jawando said. 鈥淲e need to be increasing the number of Black male teachers.鈥�
Affirmative action and business
Ivey, who took office eight months ago, is one of 58 members of the Congressional Black Caucus in the 118th Congress.
He hosted a panel discussion Friday morning titled 鈥淏lack Businesses: The Fight to Save Black Businesses from Attacks in the Courts.鈥�
, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down use of affirmative action in college admissions. Some businesses are now being targeted and encouraged not to hire employees based on race or ethnicity.
One of the main themes stated Friday: diversity, equity and inclusion, also labeled as DEI, policies are 鈥渦nder attack鈥� by some federal, state and local lawmakers and private companies.
鈥淭his may be one of the biggest moments that minority businesses face in the history of the United States. Now is the time for us to stand up and be heard on this,鈥� Ivey said.
He said business leaders and consumers should urge state attorneys general to affirm that DEI policies are vital to a company鈥檚 success.
However, it will depend on where a person lives.
A few weeks after the Supreme Court decision, 13 Republican state attorneys general wrote a letter to the CEOs of the biggest 100 companies in the nation 鈥渢o remind you of your obligations as an employer under federal and state law to refrain from discriminating on the basis of race, whether under the label of 鈥榙iversity, equity, and inclusion鈥� or otherwise.鈥�
Less than a week later, 20 Democratic attorneys general, including Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, wrote to those same companies. They said the Republican letter had a 鈥渢one of intimidation.鈥�
鈥淎s the chief legal officers of our states, we recognize the many benefits of a diverse population, business community, and workforce, and share a commitment to expanding opportunity for all,鈥� the Democratic officials wrote. 鈥淲e applaud the Fortune 100 for your collective efforts to address historic inequities, increase workplace diversity, and create inclusive environments.鈥�
Adrienne Trimble, vice president and chief diversity officer of Sysco Corp. who served on the panel, said another voice is missing.
鈥淪ome of these CEOs are getting cold feet. They are afraid to say or do the wrong thing,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ome of their positions is always to keep both sides of the aisle satisfied. You have to pick a side and I鈥檓 hoping the side they will be on is making sure that we remain committed to diversity, equity and inclusion because it is better for business.鈥�
