National Congress of Black Women

The National Congress of Black Women, Inc. (NCBW) is a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1984 to advance the educational, political, economic, and cultural development of African American women and their families. It presents itself as a nonpartisan civic and public-policy organization, with work centered on leadership development, public participation, representation in government, and opportunities for women in nonprofit and private-sector decision-making roles. NCBW was founded by prominent African American women leaders from politics, civil rights, education, and public service. Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress and a pioneering presidential candidate, served as convening founder. C. DeLores Tucker, a Pennsylvania public official and civil-rights leader, was also a founding chair. Other founding figures included Dorothy I. Height and Coretta Scott King, together with legislators, educators, lawyers, civic organizers, and public administrators such as Mary Berry, Cardiss Collins, Alexis Herman, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Gloria Lawlah, and Wilhelmina J. Rolark. The organization’s stated mission combines advocacy with civic education. It seeks to educate young people about citizenship and participation in the political process, while creating internships and other learning experiences at local, state, national, and global levels. Its broader program orientation includes encouraging African American women to pursue leadership and decision-making positions in government, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector. Unlike a commercial consumer brand, NCBW’s identity is expressed through its institutional name, public mission, leadership network, educational activities, advocacy, and commemorative projects. A prominent public cultural initiative was the commissioning of artist Artis Lane to create a bronze bust of Sojourner Truth, the abolitionist and women’s-rights advocate. The work was unveiled in 2009 by First Lady Michelle Obama and placed permanently in Emancipation Hall at the United States Capitol Visitor Center. Actress Cicely Tyson performed Truth’s speech commonly known as “Ain’t I a Woman?” during the unveiling. The project linked NCBW’s contemporary civic mission with the historical contributions of Black women to abolition, suffrage, civil rights, and democratic life. During the 2010s, available reference material reports declines in NCBW’s funding and membership. The organization later became involved in an internal governance dispute. On November 4, 2021, eight former board members filed a lawsuit against former president E. Faye Williams, alleging that organizational funds had been used for personal enrichment. The complaint also concerned the replacement of board members after an inspection of organizational records had been requested under a provision of the District of Columbia Code. The allegations were reported as claims in litigation and should not be treated as established findings without a verified disposition. NCBW’s present operating scale, current leadership, headquarters, website, finances, and organizational status are not established by the supplied reference material. Its historical profile nevertheless places it within the tradition of national Black women’s civic organizations that combine public-policy advocacy, leadership development, youth education, commemoration, and efforts to expand representation in public and private institutions.

The National Congress of Black Women, Inc. was founded in 1984 as a national nonprofit institution devoted to the advancement of African American women and their families. Its origins brought together leaders whose careers spanned electoral politics, civil-rights advocacy, education, public administration, law, and community organizing. Shirley Chisholm served as the convening founder and was among the organization’s founding chairs. C. DeLores Tucker was also a founding chair. The founding circle additionally included Dorothy I. Height and Coretta Scott King, along with numerous women who held or pursued influential roles in government and civic life. The organization’s purpose was broader than representing a single professional or policy constituency. NCBW sought to promote educational, political, economic, and cultural development, while functioning as a nonpartisan voice on issues related to the appointment and advancement of African American women in government. Its institutional agenda included increasing participation by African American women in education, politics, economic life, and social affairs. It also emphasized leadership and decision-making opportunities in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private-sector institutions. Youth education formed another important part of the mission. NCBW described its role as helping young people understand the responsibilities of citizenship and the value of engaging with the political process. Internships and other learning experiences were intended to expose participants to opportunities at local, state, national, and global levels. In this respect, the organization connected historical commemoration and policy advocacy with a pipeline-oriented approach to civic participation and leadership development. One of NCBW’s most visible historical projects was its commissioning of a bronze bust of Sojourner Truth by artist Artis Lane. Truth’s work as an abolitionist and women’s-rights advocate made her an emblematic figure for an organization focused on Black women’s public leadership and civic agency. The bust was unveiled on April 28, 2009, by First Lady Michelle Obama and placed for permanent display in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitor Center. Actress Cicely Tyson performed Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech at the unveiling. The project gave NCBW a presence within a major national civic and historical setting. Reference material states that NCBW experienced declining funding and membership during the 2010s. The organization subsequently faced an internal dispute over governance and finances. On November 4, 2021, eight former board members filed a lawsuit against former president E. Faye Williams. The former directors alleged that organization funds had been used for personal enrichment and stated that board members had been strategically replaced after an inspection of records was requested under District of Columbia Code section 29-413.05. These matters are allegations reported in connection with litigation, and the supplied material does not establish a final judicial outcome. Information about NCBW’s current officers, membership, finances, headquarters, active programs, website, and legal status after the reported dispute is not provided in the reference material. Its documented historical identity remains that of a national, nonpartisan nonprofit organization using civic education, leadership development, advocacy, and public commemoration to promote the participation and advancement of African American women.

• 2021

  Former board members bring governance lawsuit

  [1]National Congress of Black Womenen.wikipedia.org

  Eight former board members filed a lawsuit on November 4 concerning alleged misuse of organization funds and board replacements connected to a requested records inspection.

• 2010

  Funding and membership decline reported during the decade

  [1]National Congress of Black Womenen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material reports that NCBW experienced decreases in funding and membership during the 2010s; a more precise date and scale are not provided.

• 2009

  Sojourner Truth bust unveiled

  [1]National Congress of Black Womenen.wikipedia.org

  A bronze bust commissioned by NCBW and created by Artis Lane was unveiled by Michelle Obama on April 28 and installed in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitor Center.

• 1984

  National Congress of Black Women founded

  [1]National Congress of Black Womenen.wikipedia.org

  NCBW was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on the educational, political, economic, and cultural development of African American women and their families.

A nonpartisan national civic and leadership organization dedicated to expanding the educational, political, economic, cultural, and institutional participation of African American women and their families.

Product categories. Leadership-development programs · Civic and political education · Youth internships and learning opportunities · Public-policy advocacy · Recognition and commemorative initiatives · Networking and representation programs for African American women

• 2021

  Lawsuit alleging misuse of organizational funds and governance interference

  Eight former board members sued former president E. Faye Williams, alleging that organization funds were used for personal enrichment and that board members were strategically replaced after a records inspection was requested under District of Columbia law. The supplied reference does not provide a final disposition.

  Source

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• 2009Sojourner Truth bronze bust project

  United States

  NCBW commissioned artist Artis Lane to create a bronze bust of Sojourner Truth, linking the organization’s mission to the history of Black women’s abolitionist and women’s-rights activism.

  Outcome. The bust was unveiled by First Lady Michelle Obama on April 28, 2009, and placed permanently in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitor Center. Cicely Tyson performed Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech.

  Source

• 2009

  Commissioning of a Sojourner Truth memorial bustOther

  Background

  NCBW sought to honor a major figure in African American women’s history and connect historical memory with its civic and leadership mission.

  Action taken

  The organization commissioned artist Artis Lane to create a bronze bust of Sojourner Truth.

  Aftermath

  The work was unveiled at the Capitol Visitor Center in 2009 and placed in Emancipation Hall for permanent display.

  Source

1. 1National Congress of Black Womenen.wikipedia.org