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ORIGINS
In 1968
Joe Lang Kershaw became the first black to serve in the legislature
since 1889 (George A. Lewis & John R. Scott, Jr., 1889).
Elected officials to follow were Gwendolyn Sawer-Cherry-1970,
Mary Singleton-1972,  Arnett
Girardeau-1976, John Thomas-1978, Carrie P. Meek-1979 and
John “Gus” Plummer-1980. Due to the small number of black
legislators, a formal Caucus was not incorporated.
However, in 1982 due to reapportionment
nine African Americans were elected to serve in the Florida
House of Representatives (Corrine Brown-Jacksonville, James
Burke-Miami, Bill Clark-Ft. Lauderdale, James Hargrett, Jr.-Tampa,
Doug Jamerson-St. Petersburg, Willie Logan, Jr.-Opa Locka,
Alfred Lawson, Jr.-Tallahassee, Jefferson Reaves, Sr.-Miami,
and Alzo Reddick-Orlando). This significant increase gave
a new total of 12 members and afforded an historical opportunity
to construct a Caucus among African American legislators.
Original Black
Caucus founded in 1982-Reapportionment Class
Corrine Brown-Jacksonville, James Burke-Miami, Bill Clark-Ft.
Lauderdale, Arnett Girardeau-Jacksonville, James Hargrett,
Jr.-Tampa, Doug Jamerson-St. Petersburg, Willie Logan, Jr.-Opa
Locka, Alfred Lawson, Jr.-Tallahassee, Carrie Meek-Miami,
Jefferson Reaves, Sr.-Miami, Alzo Reddick-Orlando and John
Thomas-Jacksonville.
In 1986 Donald Gaffney (Jacksonville), was elected to the
House of Representatives. In 1988 Betty Holzendorf (Jacksonville),
was elected to the House of Representatives. In 1990 Cynthia
Moore Chestnut (Gainesville) and Daryl Jones (Miami), were
elected to serve in the House of Representatives.
1992 Second
Reapportionment Class
Larcenia Bullard-Miami,
Beryl Roberts-Miami, James Bush, III-Miami, Mandy Dawson-Ft
Lauderdale, Willye Dennis-Jacksonville, Josephus Eggelletion,
Jr.-Ft Lauderdale Lakes, Addie Greene-West Palm Beach, Anthony
“Tony” Hill-Jacksonville, Matthew Meadows-Ft Lauderdale, Les
Miller, Jr.-Tampa, and William “Bill” Turner-Miami. The 1992
Black Caucus had a total of 18 members with the returning
member of Al Lawson, Willie Logan, Doug Jamerson, James Hargrett,
Betty Holzendorf, Daryl Jones and Cynthia Chestnut.
In 1994 Kendrick Meek (Miami) and Rudolph “Rudy” Bradley (St.
Petersburg), were elected to the House of Representatives
to give the caucus a total of 20 members.
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