Delaware Legislative Black Caucus holds second “Unapologetically Black” conference at DSU

Delaware State University hosted the second annual Unapologetically Black Conference on April 20, bringing together lawmakers, community leaders and advocates for a day focused on policy, equity and impact across Delaware.

Held in the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center Parlors, the conference was hosted by the Racial Equity Consortium in partnership with the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus. The day featured sessions on housing reform, health equity, community safety and justice reform, along with a legislative update and preview of the next legislative session.

During the legislative update, members of the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus shared highlights from the most recent session and discussed how recent policies are shaping outcomes for Black communities across the state. Among those who spoke were Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown, House Majority Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris and Legislative Black Caucus Chair Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha.

Speaker Minor-Brown pointed to criminal justice reforms aimed at expanding access to early release, noting that while a pathway previously existed within the Department of Corrections, data showed it was not being widely used. Lawmakers responded by creating additional opportunities for individuals who have served their time to be considered for release and reentry.

“We’ve seen that although there is a pathway towards early release within Delaware Department of Corrections, when we looked at the data, people really weren’t getting out,” Speaker Minor-Brown said. “So we had to create a new pathway for individuals who have served their time and deserve a second chance to go back into society.”

She also highlighted the Delaware Legislative Black Caucus’ Justice for All agenda, developed in the years following the death of George Floyd, which led to a series of reforms, including making Delaware the first state in the country to reform the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights.

In health, Speaker Minor-Brown pointed to ongoing investments through the Delaware momnibus legislation, which began in 2022 and has expanded each year, contributing to a 19% reduction in Black infant mortality rates.

“We literally reduced the Black infant mortality rate by 19%,” Speaker Minor-Brown said. “If you look at the data, even just the Delaware momnibus, it started in 2022 with seven bills related to improving health outcomes for Black and brown women and their babies. But then every year we added on to it, and every year we continue to add on more legislation, and we’ve seen the numbers change.”

House Majority Leader Harris emphasized the long-term impact of targeted investments, including efforts that helped Delaware eliminate a colorectal cancer disparity.

“We’re the first state in the nation to eradicate a health disparity, specifically colorectal cancer,” Harris said. “We did that with years of investment.”

She added that those investments have led to broader gains for families across the state.

“We were able to save more babies and moms,” Harris said. “We were able to save more women and children and men from colorectal cancer. We were able to raise the ability for kids to do things like go to school for free in the state if you just try a little bit in high school.”

Legislative Black Caucus Chair Chukwuocha focused on public safety and education, highlighting the impact of legislation such as Senate Bill 7, which increased consequences for individuals on probation or parole found in possession of a firearm.

“That has had an impact in our communities,” Chukwuocha said, noting that Wilmington has seen declines in gun violence over the past four years.

He also emphasized education as a central issue connected to many of the challenges discussed throughout the day.

“Education is that thread that weaves them all together,” Chukwuocha said. “We want to create one standard of success for all of our children.”

Beyond the legislative session, the conference featured panels on housing reform and equity in Delaware, health equity in Black communities and community safety and justice reform. The event also included a panel discussion and presentation on the rollout of Delaware’s Black history curriculum, followed by a closing call to action.

Morgan McDonald, a sophomore pre-nursing student at Delaware State University, shared her thoughts on the event.

“The conference meant Black excellence, taking action and honoring leaders working to make our communities safer. It showed the importance of leadership, community and continuing the work to create change,” McDonald said.

The conference continues to serve as a platform for dialogue and collaboration, bringing together leaders from across sectors to address issues impacting communities throughout the state.