Archivist Holds an -American Conversation- with Reps. James Clyburn and Carolyn Kilpatrick
Press Release · Thursday, September 20, 2007

Press Release
September 20, 2007

Archivist Holds an “American Conversation” with Reps. James Clyburn and Carolyn Kilpatrick on September 24

"Race, Power, and Congress": A Conversation with Members of the Congressional Black Caucus

Washington, DC…On Monday, September 24, at 7 p.m., Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein will host an “American Conversation” with Congressman James Clyburn, Majority Whip of the U.S. House of Representatives; Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Lonnie Bunch, director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, will co-moderate this discussion on the experiences of African American legislators as they help to shape the social, political and economic framework that governs all Americans.

“American Conversations” series is a National Archives public program focusing on American history and identity. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Lynne Cheney, award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns, and historian John Hope Franklin were among those featured in previous programs, which may be viewed on the National Archives web site.

Events in this series are held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, located on the National Mall at Constitution Avenue and 7th Street, NW and fully accessible. All programs in the “American Conversations” series are free and open to the public. Seating for this program is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information or to request an accommodation (e.g., sign language interpreter) for a public program, please e-mail public.program@nara.gov or call 202-357-5000 at least two weeks prior to the event to ensure proper arrangements are secured.

Congressman James E. Clyburn of South Carolina was unanimously elected Majority Whip for the 110th Congress on November 16th, 2006, becoming the first South Carolinian and the second African American to ascend to the third ranking position in the U.S. House of Representatives. Elected in 1992, he is currently serving his ninth term in Congress. He is the author, with Jennifer Revels, of Uncommon Courage: The Story of Briggs v. Elliott, South Carolina’s Unsung Civil Rights Battle (Palmetto Conservation Foundation Press, 2004).

Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick of Michigan was unanimously elected Chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus for the 110th Congress. She is serving her sixth term in Congress, and sits on the House Appropriations Committee. Born and raised in Detroit, Congresswoman Kilpatrick did her undergraduate work at Ferris State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Western Michigan University. She earned a Masters degree from the University of Michigan and taught business education in the Detroit Public Schools.

Lonnie G. Bunch is the first director of the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Prior to this appointment, Bunch served as the president of the Chicago Historical Society (January 2001-June 2005). He has held several positions at the Smithsonian, working at the National Air and Space Museum and was the Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs at the Museum of American History. Bunch has published numerous books and magazine articles on topics ranging from African American history to cultural experiences in Japan.

# # #

For press information contact the Public Affairs office at 202-357-5300.

07-121

Top of Page