Just about the time when the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Spouses was established in 1976, Stan Foushee was on a personal mission — working on building a permanent relationship with the woman who he had been courting since “the sandbox.”
Little did he know, the girl he grew up with in Orange County, North Carolina, escorted to junior high school prom, and attended the same high school with, would end up with the title Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (D-NC). Further, he never would’ve imagined he would become a congressional spouse.
Foushee is one of 34 CBC Spouses, composed of the husbands and wives of the African American members of Congress.
“When you give your support to your spouse as a political candidate, it is not about just supporting their career decision,” said Foushee.
Established 48 years ago as a part of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF), the Spouses laid the groundwork for the establishment of the CBCF’s stellar Leadership Institute. The group has worked side by side with the CBCF and its donors to establish educational opportunities for high school, college, and graduate-level students.
Today thousands of African American scholars have reaped the benefits of receiving funds raised by the CBCF Spouses, allowing them to matriculate and go forth as a new generation of leaders.
Much has changed since the founding of the CBC and its spouses.
In 1971, when the Congressional Black Caucus was established by 13 African American congressional leaders (before the CBC Spouses were officially established), 12 women were included in the elite group of spouses as well as U.S. Rep Shirley Chisholm’s (D-N.Y.) husband Conrad Chisholm, who she divorced in 1977.
Today, however, the demographic has shifted, with almost half of the spouses now male.
The Rev. William Coleman, spouse of Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) is the chair of the CBC Spouses. While part of his responsibilities are creating motivational activities and building spousal support to further CBCF’s mission to develop leaders, inform policy, and educate the public, he also has a strong commitment to providing health and wellness check-ins and boosting professional skill-sharing outreach.
Foushee said he and Colemean have shared meaningful conversations around their unique roles.
“I can’t speak for my wife because that is her job to speak for herself. My job is to give her 100% of being supportive, understanding, patient and just listening,” Foushee explained. “Valerie loves serving and has done so from the church to local politics to now the Congress,” he said of his mate of 47 years.
One of the events that encapsulates the public and private blending of congressional spouses is the Mervyn L. & Stephanie Tubbs Jones Memorial Scholarship Classic – a family-themed weekend that has raised more than $10 million in scholarships. The couple, married for almost 30 years until Mervyn’s premature death in 2003, were devout public servants, who also understood the importance of family balance. It is a model that is mirrored in the daily lives of congressional families.
“When we said, ‘I do’ I knew my life would never be the same, but I never imagined that my wife would run and then win a Congressional seat,” said Corlie McCormick, the 2023 Scholarship Classic chair, who is an attorney and spouse of U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) “It was a whirlwind to enter politics. I do believe being in Congress has helped us to develop a closer relationship as a husband, and a family, and we support the congresswoman and are very proud of all she has accomplished.”
While CBC members have earned the moniker as “the conscience of the Congress,” the Spouses have deep roots in their collective communities. The group serves as reviewers for the Spouses Essay Contest competition for high school students and hosts a yearly community service project. The group also connects Washington, D.C. residents who are facing housing and health challenges to a community breakfast and health fair during the Annual Legislative Conference (ALC).
It is the marriage of local and national public service that solidifies the strength and endurance of the spouses and CBC members.
“Growing up, my parents instilled love for my country and pride in service,” recalled Major Gen. Andree “Ana” Carter, wife of this year’s ALC Co-Chair U.S. Rep. Troy Carter (D-La). “I knew there had to be work being done on Capitol Hill to be the most powerful country in the world, but the view behind the curtain as a Congressional spouse opened my eyes.”
However, the CBC Spouses aren’t the only ones doling out support in their relationships. Just as she supports her husband as a CBC Spouse, Congressman Carter has publicly cheered on his barrier-breaking wife.
“Words can’t express how proud I am of my wife, Ana Carter, who has been promoted to Major General in the [U.S. Army]. As the first woman in our nation’s history to serve as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne)… she is leading the way for generations of young girls who will come after her,” the Louisiana congressman wrote on Instagram on Aug. 15.
Major Gen. Carter emphasized she is inspired by watching how hard her husband and other congressional leaders work. As she enjoys her work in the military, she also noted that supporting her husband’s service in the House has strengthened their relationship at home.
“My husband and his fellow colleagues in Congress love what they do, and it shows in their work ethic and compassion for the people they represent,” she said. “Our ironclad relationship is stronger because of it. He loves what he does. I love what I do in the military. We both love each other and love to serve our country. It doesn’t get any better than that!”