As a relatively new member of the Maryland General Assembly (2023), Del. Ashanti Martinez (D-District 22) wants to learn everything he can about how to become an effective legislator and leader in Annapolis. That’s why, on Dec. 2, Martinez walked the halls, asked questions and soaked up all the knowledge he could during the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) 48th Annual Legislative Conference, which is taking place at the Capitol Hilton in Northwest D.C. until Dec. 7.
“I am here to learn, talk and fellowship with fellow legislators from around the country about the issues that are affecting everyone,” said Martinez, 28, who became a delegate appointed by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) after then-Del. Alonzo Washington became a state senator. “This is the only time we get to see other African American legislators.”
While the Dec. 2 session was relatively quiet with the NBCSL setting up and a few members present, Martinez will eventually be joined by more than 500 Black state legislators, policymakers and community leaders from across the nation. Together, they will tackle issues impacting African American neighborhoods and communities such as health, education, transportation, labor policy, diversity, equity and inclusion and justice.
“We very much look forward to hosting hundreds of state legislators to our conference because, now more than ever, we need to continue to engage in critical conversations and find creative solutions to ongoing challenges,” said NBCSL CEO LaKimba DeSadier. “This year’s theme, ‘Rebuilding the American Dream,’ underscores our commitment to uniting state legislators as catalysts for change, striving to make this vision attainable for all, especially Black constituents.”
While there will be no formal workshops about the incoming Trump administration, both Martinez and DeSadier, 52, say the future president will be on the minds and the subject of quiet conversations among the legislators.
The Origin and Operation of the NBCSL
The National Black Caucus of State Legislators was founded in 1977, and since its inception the goal has been to empower African American leaders as they serve around the nation.
The organization started after a group of about 18 Black state lawmakers, attending the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislators — the trade association for state lawmakers—perceived the latter group as “racially exclusive” at the time. That’s when the Black legislators decided to call for a national conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
Nearly 90 state legislators attended the inaugural Nashville meeting. Michigan State Rep. Matthew Neeley was elected the organization’s first president. Since then, the NBCSL has grown to have lawmakers in 44 states, the District and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with 700 members representing 60 million Americans.
In the nation’s capital, D.C. Council members are eligible for NBCSL membership because the city operates and is managed largely as a state-level jurisdiction.
Further, the NBCSL, headquartered in Northwest, has passed two resolutions calling for D.C. statehood.
The organization meets in December in a preselected city and holds workshops and other events throughout the year to keep its members abreast of the latest developments in policy areas.
A key activity of the conference is to pass resolutions on various topics and issues— like the ones endorsing District statehood. When resolutions are passed, they are sent to the White House, members of Congress and state legislative and executive leaders.
“That is how the idea of making Dec. 1 ‘Rosa Parks Day’ got started,” said Alabama State Rep. Laura Hall (D-Huntsville), NBCSL president. “I proposed the idea a few years ago, came to the NBCSL and they passed the resolution. Soon, other states such as Tennessee and Texas considered it. It all started here.”
Black House Speakers to be Honored
Hall said MSNBC’s Symone Sanders-Townsend will moderate a panel on Dec. 4 featuring seven Black State House Speakers, including Adrienne A. Jones of Maryland.
“We are honoring these individuals because it is an outstanding achievement to become the speaker of a House,” Hall said. “We have had few Blacks rise to that level. Their rise speaks volumes about their work, the respect they have among their colleagues and that they are good leaders.”
NBCSL on New Trump Administration
DeSadier said the NBCSL is a bipartisan organization that consists of both Republicans and Democrats.
“We work with all administrations,” she said. “We are open to conversations with the new administration.”
Hall, 81, agreed with DeSadier on the organization’s stance on bipartisanship.
“We have members who are Republicans,” Hall said. “We respect their views and their positions on issues.”
