About
The Avoice website is designed to capture and preserve the rich history of the political and legislative contributions of Black leaders for future generations. Serving as a central source of information on historical and contemporary African American policy issues, this virtual library is an invaluable resource for researchers, academics, educators, and students.
Developed by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) and launched in 2006, the Avoice project highlights the participation and contributions of African Americans in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. This work is integral to the CBCF’s mission of policy development and education. The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 underscored the fragility of historical artifacts, inspiring members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to prioritize the collection, documentation, and preservation of their history. The Avoice project leverages the latest technology to digitize and share these stories, ensuring they are widely accessible and preserved for generations to come.
The Avoice project is made possible through the generous financial support of Dell Inc. The University of Texas at Austin provided the initial digitization and web architecture for the platform, while the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center-Manuscripts Division at Howard University, the official repository of the CBC Archives, serves as its content partner.
The objectives of the Avoice website include empowering African Americans to become more familiar with past political issues as a foundation for understanding the political and legislative realities they face today. Additionally, the site seeks to inspire young people to pursue careers in government by showcasing the outstanding examples set by previous leaders.
The site is dynamic and continually evolving, as history is being made every day by African American legislators. New events and milestones will be added regularly. Interactive learning tools will also be available to highlight the history of African American political involvement in Congress and to promote civic engagement among youth.
We welcome your feedback and submissions. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions. This site is for you—enjoy it and share it with your friends and colleagues!
About the CBCF
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) was established in 1976 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy, research, and educational institute. Our mission is to serve as a nonpartisan, policy-driven catalyst that educates future leaders and fosters collaboration among legislators, business leaders, minority-focused organizations, and organized labor to drive positive and sustainable change within the African American community. To achieve this mission, CBCF works to expand and amplify the influence of African Americans in the political, legislative, and public policy arenas.
With a focus on education, public health, economic development, and African globalism, CBCF is the leading organization that creates, identifies, analyzes, and disseminates policy-driven information critical to advancing equity for African Americans and people of African descent in economics, health, and education.
CBCF and CBC Spouses programs are supported through fundraising events and corporate sponsorships. Each year, CBCF hosts the Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), a national forum for developing strategies and viable solutions to the public policy issues facing Black America. Additionally, CBCF organizes regional symposiums across the country to address public policy concerns and gather insights and recommendations from citizens at the local level.
About the CBC
The Birth of the CBC
In January 1969, newly elected African American representatives of the 77th Congress joined six incumbents to form the Democratic Select Committee. In 1971, the committee was renamed the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), marking the official birth of the CBC. The founding members were Representatives Shirley A. Chisholm, William L. Clay Sr., George W. Collins, John Conyers Jr., Ronald V. Dellums, Charles C. Diggs Jr., Augustus F. Hawkins, Ralph H. Metcalfe, Parren J. Mitchell, Robert N.C. Nix Sr., Charles B. Rangel, Louis Stokes, and D.C. Delegate Walter E. Fauntroy.
The founders’ goals were to positively influence events affecting African Americans and others with similar experiences and circumstances and to achieve greater equity for people of African descent in the design and implementation of domestic and international programs and services. While the CBC has primarily focused on issues impacting African Americans, it has also been a leader in legislative efforts to advance human and civil rights for all citizens.
The CBC Today
Currently, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is composed of 62 members. CBC members are dedicated advocates for the human family both nationally and internationally and have also served as impactful local and regional activists. African American members of the CBC have worked tirelessly to be the conscience of Congress, while also providing dedicated and focused service to the citizens and congressional districts that elected them, recognizing that all politics are ultimately local.
The vision of the CBC’s founding members to “promote the public welfare through legislation designed to meet the needs of millions of neglected citizens” remains a guiding principle and focal point for the legislative efforts and political activities of the Congressional Black Caucus today.
About the Collection
The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center-Manuscripts Division (MSRC) is recognized as one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive repositories for the documentation of the history and culture of people of African descent in Africa, the Americas, and other parts of the world. As one of Howard University’s major research facilities, the MSRC-Manuscripts Division collects, preserves, and makes available for research a wide range of resources chronicling the Black experience.
Its collections include the records of the Congressional Black Caucus, as well as the personal papers of several notable political figures. The collections comprise more than 175,000 bound volumes and tens of thousands of journals, periodicals, and newspapers; more than 17,000 feet of manuscript and archival collections; nearly 1,000 audio tapes; 3,000 pieces of sheet music; 15,000 sound recordings, and hundreds of artifacts—in addition to 100,000 prints, photographs, maps, and other graphic images. The collections are used by scholars, museums, students, and other researchers from Howard University and throughout the world. Information provided by the MSRC-Manuscripts Division is regularly used in exhibitions, video productions, news programming, and a wide range of publications.
THE MOORLAND-SPINGARN RESEARCH CENTER-Manuscripts Division
Howard University, Washington, DC 20059
Phone: (202) 806-7240 Fax: (202) 806-6405
Joellen El Bashir, Curator of Manuscript
About our Partners
Moorland-Spingarn Research Center-Manuscripts Division
The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center-Manuscripts Division (MSRC) is recognized as one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive repositories for the documentation of the history and culture of people of African descent in Africa, the Americas, and other parts of the world. As one of Howard University’s major research facilities, the MSRC-Manuscripts Division collects, preserves, and makes available for research a wide range of resources chronicling the black experience.
Visit Moorland-Spingarn Research Center’s Website
Dell
Dell Inc. listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services they trust and value. Uniquely enabled by its direct business model, Dell sells more systems globally than any other computer company.
Dell’s support for this milestone project highlights the company’s commitment to diversity and to educating the public about the contributions of African Americans to our nation’s history.
Visit Dell’s Website
University of Texas Libraries
The University of Texas Libraries advances the academic mission of the University and enriches the intellectual life of the people of Texas by offering unparalleled access to a universe of information. By collaborating with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation as a technical partner in the AVOICE project, the Libraries provides a robust platform for sharing a rich bounty of knowledge with audiences around the globe.
Visit The University of Texas Libraries’ Website