Pictured above: GBC Members at DA EMEA Conference in Madrid. From Left to Right Cuthbert Telesford-Denmark, Elizabeth Bond-Spain, Nicole Pearson-Spain, Angela Fobbs-GBC Chair-Germany, Ronda Zelezny-Green-UK, Christina Skovsgaard-Norway, Patricia Hamzahee-UK, Second Row. Adrienne Johnson-UK, Erica Smith-France, Shari Temple-Germany.
Welcome and thank you for visiting the Democrats Abroad Global Black Caucus page.
For a quick-to-use list of our contact links and ideas for action, go here.
The Democrats Abroad Global Black Caucus (GBC) is made up of DA members of all ethnicities from around the world who are willing and able to advocate on issues important to Black Americans within the United States of America and those living abroad. All DA members are eligible to join the GBC. We advocate for laws, policies, and programs that improve the lives of Black Americans and educate all people on the humanity of Black people.
People of visible African descent have been in what we now know as the United States of America since 1619, long before many ethnic groups who are now considered to be White. Black Americans were essential to building America. Without Black people, the greatness of America would not be possible. Today, Black Americans are in all walks of life and are 13.3% of the American population[1]. By 2060, the projected black population in the United States will be 74.5 million, with a predicted median black wealth as of 2053 of zero and a current median White wealth of $116,000.
According to the Voter Participation Center, from 2012 to 2016, Black voter turnout dropped by 4.7% overall[2]. Black voter turnout is essential for Democratic election victories. Therefore, it is necessary for Democrats to identify and focus on those issues close to the hearts of African Americans and other minority voters. In general, voters do not turn out unless they feel included, listened to, and excited. It is important that Democrats Abroad have a caucus that directly addresses the issues of Black Americans. Thus, the Global Black Caucus will produce and disseminate political content which bears witness to the ever-unfolding international history of the Black American reality. Black Lives Matter!
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[1] “QuickFacts.” U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts Selected: UNITED STATES, United States Census Bureau, 1 July 2016, www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045216.
[2] Fraga, Bernard L., et al. “Analysis | Why Did Trump Win? More Whites - and Fewer Blacks - Actually Voted.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 8 May 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/05/08/why-did-trump-win-more-whites-and-fewer-blacks-than-normal-actually-voted/?utm_term=.c54e479ea009&wpisrc=nl_politics&wpmm=1.
DA Black Caucus Leadership:
News
Black History Month 2020
Black History Month begins today. The official 2020 Black History Month theme is “African Americans and the Vote.” 2020 is an important election year, and a landmark year for voting rights. This year is the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment and the culmination of the women’s suffrage movement. The year 2020 also marks the 150th anniversary of the Fifteenth Amendment (1870) and the right of African American men to vote after the Civil War. African American suffragists made important contributions to the broader women’s movement and also to the 20th-century voting rights movement. The fight for voting rights continues today. The theme emphasizes the ongoing struggle on the part of both African American men and women for the right to vote. We must remember the past and vow never to return to those times.
The current administration is has headed down a racist and nationalist path. This Black History Month, I call on all people of goodwill and character to take a stand. Do not stand-by while the Republicans dismantle our democracy and our human rights. Our current President and all his henchmen are working hard to roll-back the progress we have made over the past 150 years. Please vote, volunteer, phone bank, donate and make sure your American friends and family are registered to vote and vote.
Announcing the 2020 GBC Poet Laureate Circle
Last year the GBC initiated a search for a Poet Laureate for 2020. Thanks to everyone who submitted a poem. In November, we narrowed down the submissions to three finalists who we interviewed. After interviewing the finalists, we realized all three poets were so wonderfully talented; we couldn’t choose just one. So we decided to create a Poet Laureate Circle. All three members will share the title Poet Laureate and the writing.
The members of our 2020 Poet Laureate Circle are:
Jasmine Cochran from China - Read Jasmine's Bio
Elaine Thomas from Germany - Read Elaine's Bio
Nadine Pinede from Belgium - Read Nadine's Bio
Congratulations to all of you!
You can read/hear the first poem, Time and Time Again, by Elaine Thomas here.
Please share this inspirational poem on your social networks. There will be more beautiful and inspiring poetry to come this year.
You can register to vote and request a ballot for the 2020 elections at https://www.votefromabroad.org/. The sooner you do it, the better.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, April 02, 2020 at 09:00 AM · 3 rsvps
Suppressed Film Screening/GOTV Ideas Discussion - I
This is the first in a series of screenings of the Brave New Films documentary short "Suppressed: The Fight to Vote". After the film, we will discuss the things you can do to get out the vote from home. The film is 38 minutes and the rest of the time is left for GOTV information, discussion, and Q&A. We will have more of these screening at various time to allow for people in different locations to participate.
About the film:
This film exposes rampant voter suppression that affected the outcome of the 2018 midterm election in Georgia and the threat it poses to our elections all across the nation in 2020. During the 2018 midterms, millions of voters experienced suppression due to voter roll purges, poll closures, long lines of over 4 hours, missing absentee ballots, and strict voter ID laws that disproportionately prevented black and brown citizens from their constitutional right to vote.
The race in 2018 was finally decided by 54,723 votes and Suppressed reveals that basic constitutional suffrage in America remains under pressure.
Given what is at stake in 2020, the effort to prevent people from voting will be fierce! We've been here before and we can stop it!
Watch the trailer.
| Location |
Event Start Local Time | |
| Vancouver, Canada | Pacific Daylight Time | 0:00 am |
| Washington DC | Eastern Daylight Time | 3 am |
| London, UK | GMT | 8 am |
| Paris, France | Central European Time | 9 am |
| Nairobi, Kenya | (GMT+3) | 10 am |
| Dubai | GST | 11 am |
| Bangkok | ICT | 2 pm |
| Beijing | CST | 3 pm |
| Tokyo | JST | 4 pm |
| Melbourne | AEDT | 6 pm |
Friday, April 03, 2020 at 03:00 PM · 11 rsvps
Suppressed Film Screening/GOTV Ideas Discussion - II
This is the first in a series of screenings of the Brave New Films documentary short "Suppressed: The Fight to Vote". After the film, we will discuss the things you can do to get out the vote from home. The film is 38 minutes and the rest of the time is left for GOTV information, discussion, and Q&A. We will have more of these screening at various time to allow for people in different locations to participate.
About the film:
This film exposes rampant voter suppression that affected the outcome of the 2018 midterm election in Georgia and the threat it poses to our elections all across the nation in 2020. During the 2018 midterms, millions of voters experienced suppression due to voter roll purges, poll closures, long lines of over 4 hours, missing absentee ballots, and strict voter ID laws that disproportionately prevented black and brown citizens from their constitutional right to vote.
The race in 2018 was finally decided by 54,723 votes and Suppressed reveals that basic constitutional suffrage in America remains under pressure.
Given what is at stake in 2020, the effort to prevent people from voting will be fierce! We've been here before and we can stop it!
Watch the trailer.
| Location |
Event Start Local Time | |
| Vancouver, Canada | Pacific Daylight Time | 6 am |
| Washington DC | Eastern Daylight Time | 9 am |
| London, UK | GMT | 2 pm |
| Paris, France | Central European Time | 3 pm |
| Nairobi, Kenya | (GMT+3) | 4 pm |
| Dubai | GST | 5 pm |
| Bangkok | ICT | 8 pm |
| Beijing | CST | 9 pm |
| Tokyo | JST | 10 pm |
| Melbourne | AEDT | 0:00 am the next day |