History of the IBLC
It was the desire to organize and focus the talents and energies of African-American legislators that led to the establishment of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus in 1979. Our voices represent the concerns and hopes of the citizens we serve. Since its inception, the IBLC has generated positive discussions about often-difficult subjects on the floor of the Indiana House of Representatives and the Indiana State Senate.
Indiana’s African-American community has contributed much to the legislative process in our state since 1881 and before.
In 1881, the first African-American began serving as a member of the Indiana General Assembly: James Sidney Hinton—a Republican from Marion County—served in the Indiana House of Representatives for one term.
It was not until 1941 that the first African-American served in the Indiana Senate: Robert Lee Brokenburr, a prominent Marion County attorney and businessman, served in most of the legislative sessions between 1941 and 1963. Brokenburr, too, was a Republican.
The first African-American woman elected to the Indiana General Assembly was Daisy Riley Lloyd, she was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 1964 as a Democrat from Marion County. Two Democrat women earned the distinction of being the first female African-Americans to serve in the Indiana Senate. Julia Carson of Marion County and Katie Hall of Lake County moved from their Indiana House of Representatives seats to the Indiana Senate in the 1977 legislative session.
Throughout the IBLC’s history, several African-American families have provided generational support to the Indiana General Assembly. Multiple members of the Dickinson, Summers and Harris families have served the people of Indiana in the legislature.
Undoubtedly, the IBLC will continue working to help African-American and other minority citizens make a history of their own. While taking time to look back to acknowledge the progress of past generations, we will keep our eyes on the future—and on the prize of equality and opportunity.
Together, the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus members listed below represent more than a century of service to the people of Indiana.
Past IBLC Members
-
Jean Breaux
Marion Co.
Senate Democrat
Elected: 2006 -
Eddie Melton
Lake County
Senate Democrat
Elected: 2016 -
Joe Taylor
St. Joseph County
House Democrat
Elected: 2016 -
Donna Harris
Lake County
House Democrat
Elected: 2015 -
Mara Candaleria Reardon
Lake County
House Democrat
Elected: 2006 -
Carolene Mays
Marion County
House Democrat
Elected: 2003 -
John Aguilera
Lake County
House Democrat
Elected: 2001 -
Samuel Smith
Lake County
Senate Democrat
Elected: 1999 -
Mark Blade
Vigo County
Senate Democrat
Elected: 1997 -
Cleo Washington
St. Joseph County
Senate Democrat
Elected: 1997 -
James Van Leer
Delaware County
House Republican
Elected: 1995 -
Mae Dickinson
Marion County
House Democrat
Elected: 1993 -
Glenn Howard
Marion County
Senate Democrat
Elected: 1993 -
Billie Breaux
Marion County
Senate Democrat
Elected: 1990 -
Earl Harris
Lake County
House Democrat
Elected: 1983 -
Earline Rogers
Lake County
House and Senate Democrat
Elected: 1983 -
Charlie Brown
Lake County
House Democrat
Elected: 1982 -
Jules Taylor
Lake County
House Democrat
Elected: 1981 -
Hurley Goodall
Delaware County
House Democrat
Elected: 1979 -
Carolyn Mosby
Lake County
House and Senate Democrat
Elected: 1979 -
Rayfield Fisher
Lake County
House Democrat
Elected: 1977 -
Joseph Summers
Marion County
House Democrat
Elected: 1977 -
Katie Hall
Lake County
House and Senate Democrat
Elected: 1975 -
William Alexander
Marion County
House Democrat
Elected: 1973 -
Julia Carson
Marion County
House and Senate Democrat
Elected: 1973 -
Rudolph Clay, Sr.
Lake County
Senate Democrat
Elected: 1973 -
William Crawford
Marion County
House Democrat
Elected: 1973 -
Robert Freeland, Jr.
Lake County
House Democrat
Elected: 1973 -
Jewell Harris
Lake County
House Democrat
Elected: 1973 -
Choice Edwards
Marion County
House Republican
Elected: 1969 -
Bernard White, Jr.
St. Joseph County
House Democrat
Elected: 1969 -
Harriette Conn
Marion County
House Republican
Elected: 1967 -
Raymond Crowe
Marion County
House Republican
Elected: 1967 -
Patrick Chavis, Jr.
Marion County
Senate Democrat
Elected: 1965 -
Valjean Dickinson
St. Joseph County
House Democrat
Elected: 1965 -
Daisy Lloyd
Marion County
House Democrat
Elected: 1965 -
Charles Walton
Marion County
House Democrat
Elected: 1965 -
William Mackey, Sr.
Marion County
House Republican
Elected: 1951 -
Forrest Littlejohn
Marion County
House Democrat
Elected: 1949 -
Zilford Carter
St. Joseph County
House Republican
Elected: 1947 -
Charles Decker
Vanderburgh County
House Republican
Elected: 1947 -
Jesse Dickinson
St. Joseph County
House and Senate Democrat
Elected: 1943 -
Wilbur Grant
Marion County
House Republican
Elected: 1943 -
Robert Brokenburr
Marion County
Senate Republican
Elected: 1941 -
James Hunter
Lake County
House Democrat
Elected: 1941 -
Joseph Allen, Sr.
St. Joseph County
House Democrat
Elected: 1939 -
Theodore Cable
Marion County
House Democrat
Elected: 1939 -
Marshall Talley
Marion County
House Democrat
Elected: 1937 -
Henry Richardson, Jr.
Marion County
House Democrat
Elected: 1933 -
Robert Stanton
Lake County
House Democrat
Elected: 1933 -
Gabriel Jones
Marion County
House Republican
Elected: 1897 -
Richard Bassett
Howard County
House Republican
Elected: 1893 -
James Townsend
Wayne County
House Republican
Elected: 1885 -
James Hinton
Marion County
House Republican
Elected: 1881