National Congress of Black Women


The National Congress of Black Women, Inc. is a 5013 non-profit organization founded in 1984, dedicated to the educational, political, economic and cultural development of African American women and their families. NCBW also serves as a non-partisan voice and instrument on issues pertaining to the appointment of African American women at all levels of government, and to increase African American women's participation in the educational, political, economic and social arenas. Currently, NCBW provides opportunities for women for leadership and decision-making positions in government, non-profit organizations and the private sector.
Their mission is to educate youth on the responsibilities of good citizenship and the importance of engaging the political process, while also providing opportunities for internships and other learning experiences at the local, state, national and global levels.
The National Congress of Black Women's founding chairs were Shirley Chisholm and Dr.
C. Delores Tucker. Shirley Chisholm was an educator, author, and politician. She became the first African American woman elected in Congress in 1968 and in 1972, became the first African American woman to make a serious bid to run for President of the United States. Dr. C. Delores Tucker was the first African American woman to serve as Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the first African-American woman to serve as secretary of a U.S. state government. Other notable NCBW founders include Dr. Dorothy Height and Coretta Scott King. The current chair of the organization is Dr. E.Faye Williams, Esq.
The National Congress of Black Women commissioned Artis Lane to create a bronze bust portraying Sojourner Truth, women's-right advocate and abolitionist. The bust was unveiled on April 28, 2009 by First Lady Michelle Obama for permanent display in the Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitor Centre. Accalimed actress Cicely Tyson Performed Ain't I a Woman Speech.
The Women's Caucus for Art, making Truth the first black woman to be honoured with a bust at the U.S. Capitol.
The Founding Members; Hon. C. DeLores Tucker, Convening Founder Hon. Shirley Chisholm, Chair Emeritus Rev. Willie Barrow Lezli Baskerville, Esq. Dr. Mary Berry Hon. Cardiss Collins Dr. Dorothy I. Height Hon. Alexis Herman Hon. Charlene Drew Jarvis Mrs. Coretta Scott King Hon. Gloria Lawlah Hon. Hilda Mason Ms. Jewell Jackson McCabe Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton Hon. Wilhelmina J. Rolark, Esq. Hon.Mary Terrell, Esq. Ms. Pat Tyson Hon. Shirley Wilcher Hon. Nadine Winter