Today, the White House hosted a historic convening of Black Cabinet members as part of Black History Month celebrations. The convening included a discussion moderated by Senior Advisor to the President Cedric Richmond. During the discussion, officials noted their commitment to the President's whole-of-government approach to advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities through the federal government and spoke to the individual experiences each brings to the departments they lead. The conversation also highlighted the significance of Black leadership in key policy areas including military service, housing, environment, foreign affairs, and the economy.
Participants included Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, United States Mission to the United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Council of Economic Advisors Chair Cecilia Rouse and Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Shalanda Young.
On January 31, President Biden issued a proclamation calling on the nation to celebrate the contributions of Black Americans, honor the legacies and achievements of generations past, reckon with centuries of injustice and confront those injustices that still fester today. In the proclamation, the President also reaffirmed his commitment to advancing equity, racial justice, and opportunity for Black Americans, which began by building a Federal Government that looks like America.
To view the full discussion, click here.
Joseph R. Biden, Readout of Roundtable Discussion with Cabinet Officials Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/354452