History and Mission

Equity, Excellence and Opportunity

HISTORY

Blacks In Government was conceived by Department of Health Education & Welfare (DHEW) Black Federal employees at the Parklawn Building in Rockville, Maryland. The organization was viewed as essential to the Black civil service employee, based on a wide assortment of racially motivated problems faced by the DHEW Black employees in Rockville. BIG was organized in Rockville Maryland in 1975, and incorporated as a non-profit organization under the District of Columbia's jurisdiction in 1976. No single Civil Rights organization has at its sole objective the development and enhancement of Federal, State, County and Municipal African American civil servants.

When coupled with the fact that no single civil rights organization has as its sole objective the preservation and enhancement of Black civil servants, it became apparent that Black civil servants had to unite and protect themselves. To some, this meant jeopardizing their careers. To others, it meant duplicating some of the efforts of other organizations. Still to others, it meant very little.

Nonetheless, Blacks In Government was organized in 1975 and incorporated as a non-profit organization under the District of Columbia jurisdiction in 1976. BIG has been a national response to the need for African Americans in public service to organize around issues of mutual concern and use their collective strength to confront workplace and community issues. BIG's goals are to promote EQUITY in all aspects of American life, EXCELLENCE in public service, and OPPORTUNITY for all Americans.

MISSION

The Greater Memphis Chapter's mission is to provide support and assistance to members and constituents when faced with discrimination to the maximum extent possible; train members and constituents on the steps they need to take in order to protect themselves against unlawful treatment or prejudices behavior in the workplace; and work with other group's minority and organizations furthering a united coalition to improve employee relations for the benefit of all public servants.







Start of Something BIG!