In recent days, America lost two influential African-Americans who served as high-ranking members of the Congressional Black Caucus — Rep. Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland and former Rep. John Conyers of Michigan.

Their loss has served to reaffirm the importance of the CBC and the election of dedicated public servants.

Mr. Conyers, who represented the Detroit area in Congress for more than 50 years, was one of the founding members of the CBC. He was part of a wave of civil rights activists who arrived in Congress in the 1960s, determined to change the status quo. In 1968, Rep. Charles Diggs of Michigan convened an informal group called the Democracy Select Committee.

“The sooner we get organized for group action, the more effective we can become,” Rep. Diggs said.

By 1971, the number of black members of Congress had risen from nine to 13. The committee members decided to formalize their organization, and the Congressional Black Caucus was formed.

The group immediately butted heads with then-President Richard Nixon, who refused to meet with the members. They interpreted his refusal as a broader rejection of the interests of all black Americans and responded by boycotting President Nixon’s State of the Union address.

“We now refuse to be part of your audience,” Rep. William Lacy Clay Sr. of Missouri wrote in a letter to the president.

The CBC was responsible for the anti-apartheid Free South Africa Movement that brought worldwide attention to the human rights abuses of the racist South African state. The longest civil disobedience movement in U.S. history, it led to the enactment of the ComprehensiveAnti-Apartheid Act of 1986, which imposed sanctions against South Africa and set preconditions for lifting the sanctions that would end apartheid.

President Ronald Reagan’s veto of the legislation was overridden, the first foreign policy veto override in the 20th century.

The National Urban League has maintained a long and productive partnership with the CBC since its inception. As noted in the official House of Representatives history, “The legislative agendas of African-American members in the post-1970 era reflected the diversity of their committee assignments and the range of interests within the general membership of Congress. Most sought to advance a broad progressive legislative agenda supported by advocacy groups such as the National Urban League and the NAACP — extending votingrights protections, improving educational and economic opportunities, fostering urban renewal, and providing access to better health care.”

While the CBC has enjoyed much closer and better relationships with presidents since landing on President Nixon’s infamous “Enemies List” in the 1970s, the group has clashed with the current occupant of the Oval Office. A few months after President Trump’s inauguration, members delivered a 130-page rebuke of his policies on criminal justice, voting rights, education, health care and other issues.

Many CBC members boycotted President Trump’s 2018 State of the Union address following his disparaging comments about African and Caribbean nations. Those who attended wore kente cloth to show solidarity with Africa.

Today, CBC membership stands at 54 after the loss of Rep. Cummings, the largest number in history. Four of the House of Representatives’ Standing Committees are chaired by a CBC member: Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott of Virginia, Education and Labor; Rep. Maxine Waters of California, Financial Services; Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, Homeland Security; and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Science, Space and Technology.

CBC Member Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina holds the position of House majority whip, the No. 2-ranking office in the chamber.

As the current administration continues working to dismantle civil rights protections and deny the vote to people of color, the work of the CBC is more important than ever. In honor of the legacy of Rep. Cummings and former Rep. Conyers, we must continue to support the CBC’s mission and recognize its leadership.

The writer is president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League.