Washington, D.C. – A public relations consultant with deep ties to the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), who also serves as the dean of Hampton University’s Scripps Howard School of Journalism, has been paid over $1 million to target Black universities and government officials on behalf of an organization with strong links to the Communist Party of China (CCP), according to Fox News. Julia Wilson, the consultant in question, has been working as a foreign agent for the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), which congressional lawmakers have identified as a forum designed to advance CCP objectives. Wilson’s firm, Wilson Global Communications, has received monthly disbursements ranging from $11,000 to $15,000 for its services.
In 2017, Wilson outlined her relationship with CUSEF during a presentation at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff. She explained that the collaboration began in 2009 when Tung Chee-hwa, the founding chairman of CUSEF, visited her office to gain a better understanding of Black Americans. Wilson had been asked to provide a white paper on how Black Americans were able to elect a Black president. This initial meeting led to the establishment of an African American Initiative that focused on education, business, and civic affairs.
As part of her work, Wilson coordinated visits to China for African American students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). She also facilitated meetings between HBCU presidents and Chinese officials, including one of China’s vice premiers. The initiative offered scholarships to African American students and aimed to enhance dialogue and relations between China and African American education and civic leaders.
CUSEF’s executive director, Audie Wong, served as Wilson’s direct contact, and Wilson reported to Wong throughout her work as a foreign agent. Despite concerns raised about the influence of CUSEF and its ties to the CCP, some politicians and organizations have continued to collaborate with the organization. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a U.S. government agency, has described the CPPCC, of which Tung Chee-hwa, the former chairman of CUSEF, was a part, as a central part of China’s United Front system, which seeks to co-opt and neutralize potential opposition to the authority of the CCP.
Wilson’s firm has also had discussions with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Jim Clyburn and Sheila Jackson Lee, among others. Social media profiles of Wilson and her firm show that they have met with prominent Democrats, such as Nancy Pelosi and John Kerry, over the past decade.
The article points out that despite warnings about the CCP’s influence, some organizations have ignored them and continue to collaborate with CUSEF. Wilson’s work on behalf of CUSEF demonstrates her significant financial gain, with her firm receiving over $1 million for its services. The COVID-19 pandemic forced Wilson to adapt her efforts, coordinating virtual courses in Mandarin for HBCU students taught by a Chinese language professor.
This article sheds light on the relationship between Julia Wilson, a public relations consultant with ties to the Congressional Black Caucus, and the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF). It highlights the financial compensation Wilson received for her work as a foreign agent and the efforts made to promote China’s interests among Black universities and government officials.