Last week, Members of the Parliamentary Black Caucus went to Washington, D.C. for their first meeting with their American counterparts, the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus. The idea was to share information respecting their respective communities.

According to Ontario Independent Sen. Rosemary Moodie, “[The U.S.] was one of those places, those countries that we look to, [that has] a much larger, much more well-established Black caucus.”

“We were intrigued by the fact that there were so many similar themes we’re working on, many of the really troubling, persistent, dogged issues,” she said. “And we we were curious to … start to reach out and partner and see how we can learn from them.”

Moodie pointed out that they should have been talking to each other a long time ago considering that many of the members of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus have family in Canada, while members of their own group have family in the U.S.

Canada’s Parliamentary Black Caucus has grown from five to 14 since it was created eight years ago. On the other side the U.S. organization is 52 years old and has a current

membership of over 50.

Liberal MP Greg Fergus was impressed the work being done by the Americans.

“I think we’ve had a successful run in terms of some initiatives that we’ve done, we can certainly learn from our American cousins in terms of how to make sure we do the right kind of coalition building, said Fergus.

Congressional Black Caucus chair Steven Horsford, in his remarks at the Canadian embassy reception, said both groups had an “incredibly productive working session” where they discussed the roles that Black legislators played in advocating for the communities they serve “each and every day.”

The Canadian parliamentarians also travelled to Howard University, a historically black research institution, where they met with leaders of American civil rights organizations including The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the National Urban League (NUL)

“We’ve learned a lot about Canada, about Back Canadians, about their challenges, their struggles and their hopes,” said Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League.

Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, noted that their organization was found in the Niagara region of Canada because African Americas could not convene safely on U.S. soil.

“I think we were struck by the similarities. The issues with policing, the justice system, poverty, lack of representation and voice. The similarities in conditions and struggles I think are much clearer to us than they were before this meeting,” he said.

Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, noted that their organization was founded in the Niagara region of Canada because African Americas could not convene safely on U.S. soil.

“To have this conversation is both historic but it is also an opportunity to continue to build upon the mutual interest that we have to ensure that all human beings are treated with dignity, regardless of their national origins or the ethnic background.”