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In cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of the Census, sponsored
a workshop on recent development in the delivery and use of Census
data and services.
Authorized cooperation with the Office of Library Personnel Resources
to develop a proposal to recruit minorities into the profession.
Established the Affiliates/Chapters Committee to encourage greater
involvement of chapter caucuses throughout the country.
Successfully coordinated the passage of a resolution to observe
Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday during Mid-Winter meetings.
Endorsed the ALA resolution opposing the Census Bureau's plan
to group all Asian and Pacific subgroups into a single category
for the 1990Census.
Sponsored two successful national conferences in Columbus, Ohio
and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Plans are underway for the third conference
to be held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1997.
Became an Affiliate of ALA.
Supported the successful campaign and election of Hardy Franklin
as the third African American President of ALA.
Throughout their tenures as President, many coordinated continuing
education activities for the BCALA membership.
As members reminisce about the birth of the Black Caucus, the
pains of growth, the joys of success, it is important not to lose
sight of the resonating "call to arms" which focused our energies
and shaped our professional spirits. From the 1970 "Statement
of Concern:"
"Black Librarians are especially concerned about the
effects of institutional racism, poverty, the continued lack of
educational, employment, and promotional opportunities upon blacks
and other minorities... As black librarians, we are intensely
interested in the development of our professional association
and our profession. . . "
The unspoken jargon of this statement is unity and empowerment
- whether deemed progressive or reactionary, it is our mission
forever!
Pauletta Brown Bracy
School of Library and Information Science
North Carolina Central University
June, 1995
1. John A. Axum, "The Black Caucus: A Meaningful Course of Action",
in E.J. Josey, What Black Librarians are Saying (Scarecrow, 1972):209.
2. Ibid.
3. Lisa Biblo, " Black Caucus of the American Library Association:
An Organization of Empowerment", in E.J. Josey, The Black Americanin
America Revisited (Scarecrow, 1994): 324-337.
4. E.J. Josey, " Black Caucus of the American Library Association",
in E.J. Josey and Ann Allen Shockley, Handbook of Black Librarianship
(Libraries Unlimited,1974): 67.
5. Biblo, 325
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. E.J. Josey and Ann Allen Shockley, Handbook, 68.
9. American Libraries (March,1970): 225.
Written in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of BCALA.
For a complete list of past chairs and presidents of BCALA, see
the Past Presidents page. Last updated April 2, 2002.
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