By Antonio D. French
Filed Friday, September 08, 2006 at 1:18 AM
To some, the Congression Black Caucus Weekend is as much about play as it is about work -- Well, actually, depending on who you talk to, those work sessions are just excuses for "partying and hooking up" afterwards -- much like the Democratic and Republican Conventions every four years. Since this reporter is happily hitched, there won't be any hooking up. But my first night in D.C. did see plenty of parties. Labels: Black_Caucus, Events, Photos
We started off at the Hotel Monoco where the IMPACT Group hosted a CBC party in a beautiful outdoor courtyard filled with live music and upper class black people. There we bumped into Congressman Lacy Clay and his wife. We also rubbed elbows with Cousin Jeff from BET.
We then moved over to the exclusive ticket-only Fannie Mae party at Union Station. Crossing the street on our way to the shin-dig, we passed Senator John McCain in the crosswalk, just walking alone like any other guy. In the party we ran into Clay's aide, Darryl Piggee, and his wife.
From there we headed to the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, which we were told is the second largest government building in D.C. (the Pentagon is the first). With VIP tags hanging around our neck (hey, we know people), we rubbed elbows with NAACP President Bruce Gordon and lobbyists and executives from just about every kind of corporation you can think of. We left before Ashford and Simpson took the stage for a concert sponsored by Southern Company.
Then we hit California Congresswoman Maxine Waters' invitation only party at the Fairmont Hotel (she didn't invite me, but again, I know people -- don't hate). Also in attendance were Congress members Barbara Lee, Al Green and William Jefferson (whose legal woes have made news recently). Lee Brown, former Mayor of Houston, and Mayor Johnnie Ford from Tuskegee, Alabama were also spotted. After snapping a couple of pictures of Waters (a St. Louis native whose sister was my 8th grade teacher) and Jefferson doing the Electric Slide, we split.
But before heading back to our hotel room to do a little writing, we stopped by one last party at the Hyatt Conference Hotel (sponsored by Remy Martin, no ticket necessary) and made a quick pass through Butler's Cigar Bar. On our way out, we bumped into Congressman Emanuel Cleaver from Kansas City and Congressman William Jefferson again.
And as I write this, in my pocket is a coveted ticket to one of the most exclusive parties of the week, The Black Party at D.C. hot spot, H2O Restaraunt and Lounge. But too little sleep and too many drinks mean this ticket won't get used and will instead become just another momento of one memorable night.
4 Comments:
Antonio:
You should have called me up. I would have gone in your stead. Do you think they would know I'm not you?
9/08/2006 8:35 AM
U.S. Rep Maxine Waters is such a beautiful and graceful woman. She should've stayed in St. Louis, or at least in Missouri and ran for a public office. She's a remakable woman.
9/08/2006 6:04 PM
Life is good in Washington, D.C. for many black politicians and their kissing a$$ buddies, while the masses of their black constituents suffer hell within the black communities that these same politicians serve.
There are disproportionate killings and degradation in the black community due to the lack of financial resources, subpar educational opportunities, poor response to natural disasters, lack of business formation, ridiculous police response, piss-poor healthcare, and just about all the ingredients you can add to create a unhealthy environment for healthy growth.
Should black politicians be partying when there communities are suffering so poorly? I would think not. I would guess that if anyone was going to throw a Congressional Caucus Party it would be white politicians since they get things done for most white people in predominantly white communities (look at the statistics and don't get mad-it's true), but I guess the White Congressional Caucus can party all year long with good reason.
Yes, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters is beautiful, but her community in California has looked ugly for as many years as she has been in office. We don't need her in St. Louis, because we have enough black politicians that think they look good representing an ugly community!
9/08/2006 11:05 PM
Anon:
How long have you lived in a blac community where there is a black elected official? Do you know who Maxine Waters is? She graduated from Vashon.
9/10/2006 5:13 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home