Obama to speak at Congressional Black Caucus awards dinner

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share via Email
• Copy Link

  Link Copied

President Barack Obama is expected to deliver the keynote address during the annual Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 43rd annual legislative conference.

Obama will attend the Phoenix Awards Dinner on Sept. 21, which is being highlighted as the key event of the four-day conference where leaders will meet to discuss public policies as they relate to the black community.

“It is an honor and privilege to have alumni CBC member President Barack Obama address this year’s Phoenix Awards Dinner. His remarks will be a fitting culmination of the 2013 Annual Legislative Conference,” said Rep. Chaka Fattah, of Pennsylvania and CBCF’s board chair, according to a press release.

The theme of the dinner will focus around one common message, the “Spirit of 1963” – which marked a time, 50 years ago from this year, where significant events in the civil rights movement were held, including the March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.

Several guests will be honored throughout the dinner including former President William Jefferson Clinton, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland and Elaine Jones, former president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

MSNBC TV host Tamron Hall and actor Wendell Pierce are expected to emcee the event.

Fattah added, “President Obama’s presence, together with our recognition of President Clinton for his global advocacy work will make this a historic evening for CBCF.”

Follow Lilly Workneh on Twitter @Lilly_Works