The Real Black Power Movement

The South dominated the Congress for generations in large part due to seniority. Since the South was a one-party region, members elected from there served for decades without serious risk of defeat. Their northern counterparts, however, had no such job security. National political tides came and went, and each time scores of northern incumbents would be replaced by new members. The southern barons just went on and on, accumulating seniority and rising to positions of dominance on one key congressional committee after another.

We are about to see the birth of a new class of committee barons. Black (and eventually Latino) congressmen from overwhelmingly Democratic districts have no need to fear defeat. Since 1992 African-Americans like Charlie Rangel and John Conyers have become among the most senior members of their party in the House. Their potential power was concealed by the fact that the Democrats were in the minority. But now they will be assuming control of major committees like Judiciary and Ways & Means. Control of these committees will give the Congressional Black Caucus disproportionate power in the House - their acquiescence will be required on every issue.

Will they be the tail that wags the dog of the Democratic majority? Not really. There were over 100 Dixiecrats in the old New Deal majority - nearly half the caucus. The CBC has only 40 or so. And while the old Dixiecrats were generally hostile to liberal legislation, representatives from majority-minority districts are among the most consistently progressive members in the House. But while they may not control the party the way the Democrats did, they will have enormous influence.

The Republicans tried to make an issue in the last campaign of (black) chairmen like Rangel if the Democrats took power. To which I can only say - it's about time.