At this year’s Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), Senator Angela Alsobrooks stood at the intersection of history and urgency. Serving as honorary co-chair, she moved between packed panels, prayer services, and policy roundtables with the confidence of someone who has lived the conference’s journey full circle. Despite her full dance card, she found the time to sit down with BET about the momentous occasion. 

“This was a great honor for me to be able to serve as a co-chair,” Alsobrooks said. “I was a Congressional Black Caucus intern 33 years ago. So to come back, this is my very first legislative conference, and to be able to come back and to not only be a member of Congress but to lead as a co-chair is a really big honor.”

Her words echoed the conference’s spirit: a space where legacy and leadership collide, and where Black lawmakers, advocates, and entrepreneurs map out strategies for a community under political siege.

Anchored in Faith

Alsobrooks is candid about how she keeps moving in a moment of economic precarity, democratic backsliding, and cultural fatigue.

“I’m a person of faith. That, combined with my own experience, helps me to know not to be constrained by what my eyes see just in this moment,” she explained. “Our history tells us that these times don’t last. Look at all that we have made it through.”

She invoked the memory of John Lewis, reminding people that resilience is not abstract—it’s built on sacrifices made on bridges and in ballot boxes. Yet, her optimism is pragmatic. “I also know that the only way for us to truly be able to see the progress we need is for us to plan for it,” she said.

That planning, for Alsobrooks, means ensuring Black communities are positioned for the future. 

“That’s the reason I hosted a panel discussion to talk about technology, AI, cryptocurrency, the ways that our community has to be positioned to grow entrepreneurship and to grow wealth in Black communities,” referring to her participation in a Sept. 25 about the future at the conference.

Though Alsobrooks emphasizes that conversations can’t stop at survival. It’s all about smart legislation that builds homeownership, funds small and mid-sized businesses, and strengthens literacy and education so the next generation can seize opportunities.

“I am all about not just talking about how we live on the margins. Beyond this moment, we have to talk about the ways that we can work to build wealth and to create generational wealth in our communities,” she said. 

Battling Cuts to Health Care

But even as she looks forward, Alsobrooks is blunt about the immediate threats communities face. She pointed to looming Medicaid cuts and soaring insurance premiums. 

“Almost every person will see the increase to insurance premiums up to 20% that will hit their bottom line,” she warned. “Add to that what we’ve seen of this Secretary of Health and Human Services, who has almost single-handedly attempted to dismantle the public health system in our country.”

She framed the moment as one of triage and strategy. “Part of it is to educate people about what they can do to access health care and to get vaccinations that they need. With the education, the education has to be really robust, because there’s so much misinformation that’s being disseminated,” she said.

Despite the grim picture, Alsobrooks insists the damage Republicans caused won’t be permanent.

“These people in office have four years, and people like myself, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Cory Booker, and [Raphael] Warnock have six [years].” 

She added, “When those people leave, we’re going to have to fix so much of what they have broken. Even the damage that they do will not be permanent damage. We can work to repair some of what they do.”

Free Speech and Strategic Resistance

In an era marked by book bans and gag orders on educators, Alsobrooks draws a line.

“The First Amendment is a bedrock principle in our country. The United States of America has the broadest free speech rights in the world, and we absolutely have to protect that. The right to disagree with the government is a foundational right, and we should never sit back and allow the censorship of speech and opinion by the government. I will never tolerate that,” she said. 

Still, she emphasized that advocacy requires more than words.

“It’s not just what we say; it’s also what we do. Making sure that we spend dollars in the communities that respect us and that support us, making sure that we are investing in our communities, that we’re saving money, and that we are strategically taking advantage of programs to buy homes and do other things.”

Convening in Black Joy

Despite the challenges, Alsobrooks described the conference as a wellspring of energy. 

“It’s a moment of joy. I’ve enjoyed just…immensely having the opportunity to convene with the members of the Black Caucus and all who have come here today. The ideas that are flowing have been so inspiring,” she said.

She cited conversations with entrepreneurs, advocates, and health professionals as fortifying. 

“No matter what people try to shut down, the truth is that we’re here and we are not leaving. We come together no matter what, because we have a right to. To be honest with you, we don’t care what the rest of the world thinks. I don’t care. I’m here and enjoying it, and I feel the people here are doing the same.”