Sacramento Area Black Caucus

“Still Going Strong: Struggling for Justice”

Highlights of the

Sacramento Area Black Caucus (SABC)

1972-2013

Our History

The Sacramento Area Black Caucus was originally formed as an umbrella organization for Black organizations and individuals in the Sacramento Area. The initial meeting of interested organizational representatives and individuals was called together during February of 1972 by Dr. William Lee, publisher of Sacramento Observer, and Sonebeyatta Lumumba, representative of the Republic of New Africa. The meeting was held in the conference room at the Sacramento Observer Newspaper office.

Subsequently, early meetings were held at the Century Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church on 29^th Ave. At those meetings the by-laws and articles of incorporation were produced. Fred Foote and Robert Tyler played key roles in bringing together these early documents.

The organizational by-laws were adopted on April 23^rd, 1972. The first Chair was Rev. S. L. Higgins.

The first public appearance of the Caucus was at a Sacramento City Council meeting where the caucus launched an attack on the Council’s failure to appoint Black people to the city’s boards and commissions. There were only two Black people on all the city’s boards and commissions, and none on such important bodies as the Civil Service Commission, the Planning Commission, and the Redevelopment Commission.

Sacramento at-large-including the city council-was shocked to learn that the caucus existed. The Caucus’ statements were widely reported in the press. A Black student at Harvard even wrote a paper on the dramatic appearance of the Caucus. The paper subsequently appeared as an article in the Sacramento Bee.

The Caucus changed from an umbrella organization into one more, specific, black organization because members became disappointed with the necessity of waiting at least one month for every proposed action to enable each member organization to meet and consider Caucus recommendations.

Once the Caucus became an independent organization, it was instrumental and successful in addressing a variety of issues impacting the Black community.

About Us:

Sacramento Area Black Caucus meetings are the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month starting at 7:30pm. For meeting locations please contact us at:  sblackcaucus4@gmail.com.  Our contact information: SABC, , P.0  Box 5528, Sacramento, CA 95817.