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Your help is needed for us to continue serving our community. By donating, you can help ensure that we are able to make a difference. A Better and Brighter Future for Mississippi Support the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus Invest in the Future of Equitable Leadership The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus is committed to advancing justice, equity, and opportunity for all Mississippians. Through bold legislative action, strategic advocacy, and community engagement, we work to ensure that the voices of historically underserved communities are heard and prioritized in state policy. Your donation fuels our work—from drafting transformative legislation to hosting public forums and training the next generation of civic leaders. With your support, we can continue fighting for quality education, fair economic opportunities, accessible healthcare, and voting rights. Every dollar makes a difference. Help us build a stronger, more inclusive Mississippi. Donate today.

Here, you will be able to find the rich history of the Mississippi Black Caucus. Donate to the Caucus MLBC HISTORY The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus evolved as an informal organization in 1976 and remained that way for three years, which was consistent of racial legislative caucuses in other states at that time. The early members included Representatives Robert Clark, Horace Buckley, Fred Banks, and Doug Anderson. Hillman Frazier, who currently serves as a Mississippi State Senator, joined the group as a volunteer staff member. Robert Clark, a schoolteacher in Holmes County, became the first African American to be elected to the Mississippi State Legislature following Reconstruction. His election was a by-product of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 combined with strong mobilization efforts of local leaders and organizations, particularly the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and the NAACP. African American citizens in Mississippi had been disenfranchised for nearly 100 years prior to the federal civil rights legislation. Thus, no African American had served in the state legislature between 1896 and 1967. The caucus was formally established in 1980 after an increase of 19 African American legislators. Representative Robert Clark was the first chair of the organization, followed by Representative Fred Banks as the second chair. The caucus is supported by the Political Education and Economic Development Foundation. The first chair of this foundation was Representative Charles Young. One of the main fundraising events was an annual banquet in which proceeds were used to fund scholarships for students attending historically Black colleges and universities in the state of Mississippi. Below are the original Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus members. House 47 Rep. Robert Clark Senate 27 Sen. Douglas Anderson House 69 Rep. Fred Banks Senate 28 Sen. Henry Kirksey House 70 Rep. Horace Buckley House 67 Rep. Credell Calhoun House 94 Rep. Barney Schoby House 50 Rep. Leslie King House 119 Rep. Isiah Fredericks House 110 Rep. Mitch Elerby House 85 Rep. Charles Shepard House 96 Rep. David Green House 82 Rep. Charles Young, Sr House 93 Rep Percy Watson House 38 Rep. Tyrone Ellis House 9 Rep. Clayton Henderson Senate 21 Sen. Arthur Tate House 57 Rep. Ed Blackmon House 29 Rep. Linda Coleman House 68 Rep. Dennis Sweet House 72 Rep. Tomie Green House 80 Rep. Omeria Scott House 27 Rep. Ferr Smith House 11 Rep. Leonard Morris House 32 Rep. Willie Perkins House 50 Rep. Jimmie Thornton House 31 Rep. Bill Richardson House 51 Rep. Rufus Straughter House 26 Rep. Aaron Henry House 30 Rep. Robert Huddleston House 65 Rep. Hilman Frazier House 36 Rep. David Gibbs Senate 80 Sen. Eric Powell House 63 Rep. Walter Robinson Senate 26 Sen. John Horhn Senate 32 Sen. Sampson Jackson Senate 12 Sen. Johnny Walls Senate 36 Sen. Vincent Davis Senate 13 Sen. Willie Simmons Senate 16 Sen. Bennie Turner House 41 Rep. Alfred Walker House 42 Rep. Reecy Dickson Senate 24 Sen. David Jordon House 98 Rep. David Myers *This short summary are excerpts of Black Legislative Politics in Mississippi by Dr. Byron D. Orey (2000). https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/poliscifacpub/5 Join Our NEWSLETTER Sign Up Mailing Address Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus New Capitol PO Box 1018 Jackson, MS 39201 Email info@msblackcaucus.org

Thank You Sponsors! To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Cooperative Energy NBCSL 49th Annual Legislative Conference The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus proudly served as state host for the National Black Conference of State Legislators (NBCSL) 49th Annual Legislative Conference on December 7–12, 2025 in Biloxi, MS. This nationally recognized event brought together more than 1,000 state legislators, business leaders, and legislative staff from across the country for in-depth discussions on policies shaping our communities. NBCSL is a premier platform for networking, education, and advocacy—addressing critical issues such as economic development, education, healthcare, and criminal justice reform. Hosting this conference in Mississippi was both a tremendous honor and a unique opportunity to showcase our state’s rich heritage, resilience, and commitment to progress. HBCU Tailgate Welcome Reception The MLBC 2025 HBCU Tailgate Welcome Reception during the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) Annual Legislative Conference was held on Monday, December 8, 2025, in Biloxi, Mississippi at the Gruich Community Center. This year’s theme—“The Legacy Lives Here”—celebrated the enduring impact of our Historically Black Colleges and Universities, our Greek-letter organizations, and the collective work we continue to advance for Black communities across the nation. The Welcome Reception was a signature experience that brought together legislators, policy leaders, advocates, students, alumni, and partners from across the country for an evening of fellowship, culture, and celebration. With live music, food, and community engagement, this event set the tone for a week of meaningful discussion and policymaking. It also provide the MLBC with an important opportunity to showcase Mississippi’s rich HBCU legacy and our commitment to fair public policy.

MLBC Retreat 2025 Unifying the Caucus, prioritizing our shared mission, and moving forward together. Thank You Sponsors! The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus brought together our members in a spirit of unity, reflection, and strategic planning. Over several days, members engaged in meaningful conversations about the state of the caucus, identified legislative priorities for the coming year, and strengthened the bonds of fellowship that ground our work. From strategy sessions and policy discussions to moments of celebration and connection, the retreat underscored our shared commitment to advancing justice, equity, and opportunity for all Mississippians. The retreat also honored our rich legacy of leadership, while challenging us to think boldly about the future. Together, we emerged with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear vision: to move forward as One Caucus, united in service to the people of Mississippi. We thank all our members, partners, and sponsors who contributed to making this retreat a success. The lessons, strategies, and commitments made here will guide our work in the upcoming legislative session and beyond. Black Caucus Retreat 8-18-2025 043 Black Caucus Retreat 8-18-2025 1011 Black Caucus Retreat 8-18-2025 032 Black Caucus Retreat 8-18-2025 043 1/121