H6772 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 3, 1997 GENERAL LEAVE trator in that college. This is the kind Ultimately, in addition to her profes- Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask of transformation aspect of her life sional stature, Betty was to become a unanimous consent that all Members that, in many ways, is shades of Mal- human rights advocate of very special may have 5 legislative days within colm. stature. which to revise and extend their re- b 2015 I want to say something further marks on my special order in recogni- about her husband, the man who trans- Betty met Malcolm in New York, formed himself from a petty criminal tion of the life of Betty Shabazz to be having come there to study nursing. given today. to a major league thug to a black Mus- She described the courtship as an old- lim and finally to an orthodox Sunni The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there fashioned courtship. I wish we had objection to the request of the gentle- Muslim who embraced universal broth- more of those today. Malcolm loved erhood, because I think we ought to be woman from the District of Columbia? children, and he particularly loved his There was no objection. clear who Malcolm became. There is children. I must say that during their lack of clarity on that in this country, f what turned out to be a short mar- because only then can we understand riage, Betty was pregnant most of the RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF BETTY Betty Shabazz. time. SHABAZZ But before I go on, I see that I have Malcolm was assassinated on Feb- been joined by my good colleague, the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under ruary 21st, 1965, with four of those six gentleman from Georgia [Mr. JOHN the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- girls by her side. She threw herself LEWIS]. It is very fitting that JOHN uary 7, 1997, the gentlewoman from the onto the children when she heard the should come forward first, for he and I District of Columbia (Ms. NORTON) is bullets, and then she ran to Malcolm, worked together in the very same civil recognized for 60 minutes as the des- by which time he was already dead. rights movement for which the civil ignee of the minority leader. How do you go forward after some- rights martyrs became so well-known Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I come thing like that? Unlike the two other and admired in this country, Malcolm forward this evening to lead a special civil rights widows, with whom she be- X, Martin Luther King, and Medgar order in recognition of the life of Betty came friends, Betty was left without Evers. Shabazz. any protection. Myrlie Evers, the ex- I am pleased to yield to the gen- Betty Saunders was the adopted and traordinary wife of Medgar Evers, who tleman from Georgia [Mr. JOHN LEWIS]. only daughter of loving parents, who has since become chair of the board of Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, grew up in Detroit, MI. She died on the NAACP, was left with the protec- I want to thank my good friend and my June 24, 3 weeks after being burned tion of our largest and oldest and best- colleague, the gentlewoman from the over 80 percent of her body. Her grand- known civil rights organization, the District of Columbia [Ms. NORTON], for son, Malcolm, has been convicted of NAACP. Coretta Scott King, when Dr. calling this special order tonight. I the arson and has since been judged to Martin Luther King was assassinated, know some time ago the gentlewoman have been mentally disturbed. was left with the protection of the from the District of Columbia had I come forward this evening to speak Southern Christian Leadership Con- planned to hold a special order, but be- of a woman who in a very real sense ference, and, as it turned out, of much cause of the schedule of the House, we was two women. Betty Shabazz was her of the Nation, for whom King was rec- are doing it tonight. own woman, and inescapably and ognized as a very special martyr and a So Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague memorably, Betty Shabazz was the very great man. But as for Betty, it in paying tribute to a noble spirit, Dr. widow of a great man, Malcolm X. The was members of the Nation of Islam Betty Shabazz. I felt a profound sense two identities are inevitably related. who were ultimately convicted of the of loss when I learned of her death. Each side, gracious and strong, fed the assassination of her husband. She was Betty Shabazz stood tall as a wife, a other side of this remarkable woman. left with no organizational protection. mother, and a friend. I want to begin by saying some words What did she do? She did what such As a matter of fact, I knew Malcolm about Betty, and later on I want to say women often do, only she did it in her and got to know her husband fairly some words about Malcolm X, because way. She raised these girls, got more well. I first met him on the night of many have no clear vision of who Mal- education, and went on and got a ca- August 27th, 1963, 34 years ago, here in colm became, and in honoring Betty, reer. The country and the world did not the city of Washington on the eve of we inevitably honor this man who hear much of Betty Shabazz during the march on Washington. The last transformed himself. this period. I cannot imagine who could time I saw her husband alive was in I knew Betty well. On one level she have heard much of Betty Shabazz, Nairobi, Kenya, in October 1964, at the was simply a friend, one of the girls. doing what she was doing during this New Stanley Hotel. On the level where she is remembered period. She lived a very private life. Malcolm and Betty together rep- best, she of course was the widow of She was particularly keen to protect resented something deep and good Malcolm X. But at the level that I find these children, and, of course, she had about the very best of America. Betty most remarkable, Betty Shabazz was to live and move forward. Shabazz stood tall as a wife, as a moth- all Betty, not Malcolm, because Betty, I had a forum at the Black Caucus er. She stood tall as a woman of cour- like Malcolm, redefined herself from Weekend last year where I invited age, pride, and with a great sense of the wife of a great man who was trag- Betty Shabazz, my old friend, to be one dignity. ically assassinated, to herself, a self- of the speakers, because it spoke to is- As I said before, at the age of 28, made woman. sues about which she had been identi- Betty Shabazz suddenly lost her hus- There is, of course, Betty the mother. fied. And this very gracious and re- band, Malcolm, to an assassin’s bullet. There is a kind of primacy that was at- markable woman was anything but With few resources, she began to raise tached to being Betty the mother. self-assured about coming to this her six daughters. With determination When you raise six girls, when your forum and speaking at this forum with she pursued and achieved a doctorate husband is struck down and assas- women whom she regarded as more degree in education. With a deep sense sinated before your very eyes, when practiced at such pursuits. of compassion and an abiding faith, you and four children are in the ball- I remember that Betty said when she Betty Shabazz continued Malcolm’s room where that act occurs, you are in- finally got herself so that she could see work. escapably, first and foremost, a moth- the movie Malcolm X that the young On February 21, 1965, I say to the gen- er. When you are pregnant with twins actress who portrayed her was far more tlewoman from the District of Colum- who are then later born, there is a very self-assured than Betty felt she was bia Ms. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, my special primacy to being a mother. during this period. There was a kind of friend and colleague of long standing, I Yes, she went on to get her doctorate inner assurance and inner conviction, remember very well, we were driving and to become an associate professor at an inner self-esteem that came out dur- back from Macon, GA in south Georgia Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY, ing the forum, and that was part of the on the way to the city of Atlanta, and and ultimately to become an adminis- very essence of Betty Shabazz. then on our way to Selma, when we September 3, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6773 heard on the radio that Malcolm had mination. Betty Shabazz has left us. I By example, Dr. Shabazz rejected bit- been assassinated by an assassin’s bul- would like to think that she is now in terness as she embraced the principles let. a better place, and at long last she has of ethnic unity, universal peace, and As the gentlewoman stated so well, been reunited with her beloved Mal- nonviolence. She touched thousands of Betty was pregnant with twins as she colm. Tonight our hearts and our sym- lives through her work as an educator witnessed the murder of her husband. pathies go out to her family and her and administrator. She was a quiet but Just a week earlier the family home friends. We will all miss her, but the effective healer of the breach between had been firebombed, and as the wife of great example of her life leaves us perceived conflict in ideologies. That is a controversial public figure, worry sweetly blessed with a profound sense why it is so important that the gentle- and concern for the well-being of her of hope. woman from the District of Columbia family had become part of Betty’s life. So tonight I say to you, Betty, thank [Ms. NORTON], our sister, called us here So on this day, we are here to honor you. Despite great challenges, defeats, tonight, so that America will never for- the life of a remarkable woman, an ex- and difficulties, you, Dr. Betty get Dr. Shabazz. traordinary person. Ghandi, the great Shabazz, walked through life with soul It was not her way to challenge oth- teacher of the philosophy and the dis- force. You had the ability, you had the er’s memory of her husband. She chose cipline of nonviolence, once said that capacity, to produce great results. You instead to live the beliefs she and her there was a soul force in the universe will be missed. As a Nation and as a husband shared. Although tragedy which, if permitted, would flow people, we will not forget your gifts to haunted their family, Dr. Shabazz re- through us and produce miraculous re- all of us and to all humankind. mained strong in her convictions. Her sults. Again, I want to thank my friend and life was a living testament to her In the life of Betty Shabazz we can my colleague, the gentlewoman from strong belief in self and family values. find that soul force, a power to trans- the District of Columbia [Ms. NORTON] We talk about family values; Dr. form tragedies into great victory. By for bringing us together tonight to par- Betty Shabazz lived them. Goes by an her quiet and courageous example, ticipate in this special order. old dictum which I love to follow: I Betty Shabazz fought tragedy with b 2030 would rather see a sermon than to hear love and compassion. She did not be- Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank one any day. She did not preach family come bitter or hostile after the murder the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. values; she lived them. of her husband. Instead, Betty picked LEWIS] for his eloquent words concern- She believed in education as the herself up and raised six lovely daugh- ing Betty Shabazz. linchpin of self-determination. Her ters. As their mother, she got involved I see that I have been joined by other early training as a nurse com- in their lives. She passed on to them Members, and I am pleased to recognize plemented her care and her spirit as a the great legacy of their father. at this time the gentlewoman from care-giver. Her passion for learning in- Betty not only had the ability but Florida [Mrs. MEEK], who will now spired her as she achieved academic ex- also the capacity to grow and to learn. speak to us, and I am pleased to receive cellence. She earned a bachelor’s de- Perhaps that is why she became an ed- her words at this time. gree in public health. Her master’s ucator. That is why she had the capac- Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I course work was in early childhood ity and the ability to reach out to oth- want to thank the gentlewoman from education. ers. She had the ability and the capac- the District of Columbia [Ms. NORTON], In 1975, Dr. Shabazz received a doc- ity to inspire. That is why I think we my sister and my esteemed colleague, torate in education, and after that she are here today. In her professional life for giving us the opportunity tonight joined the faculty of Medgar Evers Col- as an administrator of Medgar Evers to speak about a great woman, and to lege where she served until her death. College in New York City, Betty help America understand the place Betty Shabazz passes on her love of Shabazz encouraged young people to that this great woman will have in the learning to her six daughters. They are study and to strive for their very best. history of this country. also women of achievement in their I would say to the gentlewoman from Dr. Betty Shabazz, Mr. Speaker, was own right. She believed in family, she the District of Columbia [Ms. NORTON], a woman of honor, a woman of integ- loved her daughters, and she lived life. Betty Shabazz touched so many with rity, and a woman who will set an ex- Indeed, her love for life and children her strength and kindness. I know on ample for all of America’s children. fused at the moment of this tragic epi- so many occasions she made me laugh. On February 21, 1965, Dr. Shabazz and sode. Being with Betty was always joyful, her four young daughters witnessed the We cannot pay homage to Dr. sharing funny stories or something we brutal assassination of her husband Shabazz without mentioning the trou- saw in the audience, or something we and their father, Malcolm X. This vio- bled life of her grandson, for even as read about or something we saw during lent, terrifying incident thrust her into she lay dying, her love and care the Congressional Caucus weekend. I the national spotlight. We all remem- reached out to him. I would say to the will never, ever forget her sweet and ber Brother Malcolm. We all remember gentlewoman from the District of Co- wonderful smile; just being in her com- his wife, Betty Shabazz. And that is lumbia, and my colleagues, that I am pany, being in her presence. why we are here tonight, to pay special certain that Dr. Shabazz would want us I have a photograph of Betty with honor to Mrs. Shabazz. to remember her life by remembering Mrs. King and Dr. King’s sister, Chris- She spent the next 32 years of her life the life and needs of her grandson. tine King Farris, and they are all smil- preserving the legacy of Malcolm X. Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank ing, sharing some story. Sometimes we Through these efforts we came to know the gentlewoman from Florida for her never know how powerful, how influen- and admire Dr. Betty Shabazz, for in memorable words. I want to say how tial a person is until we miss them or the process she established her own pleased I am to be joined at this time do not see them. Maybe we will never legacy. While we mourn the passing of by the gentlewoman from North Caro- know. our beloved friend and sister, we also lina [Mrs. CLAYTON]. Betty, through her courage, was able celebrate her life and reunion with her Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I, too, to supply all of us with faith and hope. husband in a strange twist of fate. want to commend my colleague, the She had the ability to be able to see Malcolm X unknowingly prepared Dr. gentlewoman from the District of Co- good or goodness in all humankind. Shabazz for her life’s work. Through- lumbia [Ms. NORTON], for holding this With one more river to cross, I wanted out their short but wonderful mar- Special Order and providing us an op- Betty to survive, to beat the odds. riage, Malcolm urged her not to hold portunity to enter brief remarks about Even as she struggled to overcome and grudges. Brother Malcolm’s advice Mrs. this distinguished woman who is a to recover from the extensive burns on Shabazz took to heart. At the same woman of our history. her body, she held onto life longer than time Dr. Shabazz found the strength Mr. Speaker, I am saddened but in- many had expected. she needed to help her children through spired tonight. I am saddened because I Yes, this is the life of a remarkable the crisis of the loss of their father and stand here to say farewell to a sister American woman, of a beautiful to nurture and fortify them for life’s friend who lived a life worth emulat- woman with iron will and strong deter- uncertainties. ing. The late Betty Shabazz was a H6774 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 3, 1997 woman of character, a woman of and numerous painful skin grafts, she The legacy of Dr. Betty Shabazz will strength and presence. She rose above endured. Dr. Shabazz held on with live on in all of our lives. tragedy when her husband was mur- strength and determination, those Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank dered. She stood up to challenges, rose qualities that have continued to sus- the gentlewoman from California for to the occasion after the death of her tain us during these difficult days those very warm and wonderful words husband, and raised her children with ahead. of tribute to Betty Shabazz. dignity and pride. So I am so proud tonight to be able There may, indeed, be other Members Those words have been often stated to participate in this evening’s func- coming to the floor, and while I await tonight and will be said again. I am tion to offer the rightful homage to one them, I think I would like to deepen saddened at the loss of this special of our greatest political and social ac- my own remarks, because we speak of woman, this special woman of history. tivists to have graced this earth. Betty Shabazz, a woman who carved I am happy, however, to have known of I rise tonight not to focus, though, on out her own identity in a most memo- this woman and to be alive to have this the tragic loss of Dr. Shabazz, but rath- rable way. And yet we also say and re- woman demonstrate what strength and er on the tremendous gains that we as member that this was the widow of character really is. a society have made due to the Malcolm X. Because of confusion con- Not better words can be said than unyielding dedication and determined cerning who Malcolm X was and, there- those spoken by the gentlewoman from leadership of Dr. Betty Shabazz. fore, in a great and important sense Florida [Mrs. MEEKS]. It is certainly Throughout her 61 years of life, Dr. who Betty Shabazz was, I feel an obli- better to see the sermon than to hear Shabazz embodied an extraordinary gation to say a word about the legacy ideology spoken. balance of intellect and compassion, of Malcolm X that Betty Shabazz car- Dr. Shabazz died this summer the coupled with grace and composure. Dr. ried with such grace. victim of an unfortunate circumstance, Shabazz grew up in Detroit and studied It is according to what generation we but until the end she showed courage, at Tuskegee Institute, New York’s live in and what we saw as to who we grace, and class to the victim and her Brooklyn State Hospital School of may understand Malcolm X to have family. She was an extraordinary Nursing and the Jersey City State Col- been. It was his very capacity to trans- lege in New Jersey, while helping her woman. After her husband’s death, she form himself that leaves me wondering children to accept the absence of their lived quietly, raising her six daughters, when I hear people say Malcolm X, giving them the value of family and father. In 1975, she received a doctorate in which Malcolm are they talking about? the emphasis of education by showing education from the University of Mas- b 2045 that she, too, would go on to school sachusetts, and later became the Direc- earning a doctor’s degree. She served Are they talking about the Malcolm tor of Institutional Advancement and as a college administrator, and as her who transformed his life and who in so Public Relations at Medgar Evers Col- children grew up, became more active doing should be an inspiration to us all lege in Brooklyn, NY. Throughout her in the community and the world as a that we can all become something else, academic career, and long afterwards, participator in democracy. something better, something different? Dr. Shabazz served as a spokesperson We have lost a great human being, a It takes enormous will to be able to and tireless advocate for the homeless, mentor, a mother, a grandmother, and say at the end of 5 years, I am some- the poor, and for civil rights. a friend. But we also have missed her thing different from who I was 5 years She educated children and adults on ago, because I have made myself some- spirit, a spirit of self-confidence and dealing with racism and civil rights, thing different. worth and value. We will always re- and built very strong relationships If we think about the extraordinary member her strength, but we also will with the Hasidic rabbis and other Jew- transformation of Malcolm X, then I remember her courage and her love for ish leaders to address the violence and think there will be a greater capacity her children, yes, and her grandson. tensions dividing communities for us to imagine the transformation of Commitment to love all who had been throughout this country. given to her caring, nurturing arms to On top of all of her work to advance our country and the transformation of raise and to be a mother and a grand- social justice, Dr. Shabazz raised those many in our country who seem stuck mother, and a committed sister friend. six daughters of hers all on her own where they are. We say fare you well. and she never asked for pity, she just Let me say to you that Betty trans- Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, those exemplified her pride. formed herself, and in a real sense, were very special words, and I thank She was a leader with a powerful and when you see a great man like Mal- the gentlewoman from North Carolina contagious compassion for making a colm, you ought to understand that a [Mrs. CLAYTON], my wonderful col- difference. She was also a team player great man does not choose a little league, for coming forward to make and knew how vitally important it is woman. He chose a woman who also them here this evening. that we all work together to resolve ra- was capable of transforming herself. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased at cial tension and inequality in this Na- I have to say, if I was left in this this time to be joined by another won- tion. world with four babies and two more I derful friend and colleague, the gentle- The pain and sorrow that fills all of was about to bear, I am not sure I woman from California, [Ms. our hearts when we think of the tragic could have transformed myself. It MILLENDER-MCDONALD]. death of Dr. Betty Shabazz is over- would have been doing good just to Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. whelming, but I ask my colleagues, and hold on. Speaker, I would like to congratulate all within the sound of my voice, to This is a woman who said, hey, I, too, the gentlewoman from the District of join me in recognizing and honoring can make myself what I need to be. Columbia [Ms. NORTON] for bringing the wonderful ways in which Dr. And what a model she had for self- this Special Order tonight so that we Shabazz has enriched all of our lives as transformation. would have an opportunity to really an inspiring role model and as a friend. Make no mistake about who Malcolm speak about a dear friend, an outstand- Let us continue to impart her fine X was before we met him, Malcolm Lit- ing woman, a woman of character, a work to generations and for the gen- tle, the petty criminal who became the woman of dignity. erations yet to be born. serious felon and who, while in prison, Yes, on June 23d, we lost one of the Yes, Dr. Betty Shabazz dedicated her became converted by the Black Mus- greatest leaders in the fight for social life to social justice and had a tremen- lims and finally left them. Each and justice, Dr. Betty Shabazz, and I join dous impact on the young since the every time Malcolm X had to say to tonight with my colleagues in sending death of her husband, Malcolm X, some himself something that is very hard to my deepest sympathies, as I did during 30 years ago. While we mourn her pass- say, who am I? Is this who I want to those dark days and dark moments ing, let us not forget, more impor- be? Can I be something else? after her demise, to the entire Shabazz tantly, how blessed we were to have I ask you to consider, how many peo- family. had someone of this esteemed caliber ple do you know who have become Despite the third-degree burns which touch all of our lives in such an unfor- something truly different from who covered over 80 percent of her body, gettable way. they once were? How many people do September 3, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6775 you know who have improved them- Shabazz, I found that legacy living and because as I have listened to your pas- selves? How many people do you know I found that legacy of principle living sion and compassion and those of my who live by principle so that they are in Attalah, the eldest daughter, the el- other sisters, as I hope the Speaker willing to risk their very lives for prin- oquent Attalah. This girl has Malcolm will tolerate briefly and indulge us just ciple? When Malcolm X converted, he in her. And let me indicate how and for a moment, because this is such a became an orthodox Sunni Muslim and why. There came a point in the service, special occasion. As the moments tick so did Betty Shabazz. He broke with to show you how universal a figure by, I hope he will allow those who have the Nation on matters of principle at Malcolm has become, Governor Pataki come to the floor to complete this trib- the risk of his life. He came to accept was there, Mayor Giuliani was there, ute. universal principles of human rights, all of the prominent politicians of New But in listening to you, sometimes it brotherhood and sisterhood. York were there. Mayor Koch was is appropriate to offer the benediction I do not always know who we are re- there. He talked about a street, a grand but for the fact that others continue to membering when we remember Mal- avenue named for Malcolm. come to pay tribute. I will simply say colm X. The Malcolm X on the T-shirt, There came a point in the service a few points because I knew the honor- which Malcolm X is that brother? Yes, when they recognized the politicians in able and cherished Dr. Betty Shabazz it will be the Malcolm X of black na- the audience and they would stand up as an admiring watcher, if you will, of tionalism. I think he would have con- and say something or at least be recog- her eloquence and love of life. tinued to stand for that, but that sense nized. When they recognized Mayor of nationalism would have been for him Interestingly enough, from a dis- Giuliani, there was some boos in the tance, unlike the knowledge and per- the motivating force to continue to church. At that point, others in the bring justice to his people, for he had sonal friendship that you possessed, I church began to clap so as to drown out watched her stateliness, her regalness, also embraced orthodox Sunni Muslim the boos, and it was all over. religion and spoke openly and often of and her capturing the audience wher- When it came time for the daughters ever she went in her most humble and universal principles of brotherhood. to come forward, all six of them, it was This is a man who learned, was willing honest way. only one who spoke for them, the eld- She taught at a college in New York. to say when he thought he had been est. I know about that obligation; I am wrong, and to move on. A good friend of mine had the pleasure the eldest of three daughters. Attalah of being on campus as a faculty mem- I have to tell you, I ask you, even stepped forward, extemporaneously to among great men or women to find me ber with her, Sheryl Williams, I called speak for the remaining family. And her Shey Williams. And on the occa- examples like that. Here is a great she obviously had thought about what man, Martin Luther King. But he was sions that we had to speak together, she was going to say. And the question born into the tradition that he came to there was always an endearing com- of the boos, I can tell you, had been represent and he represented the best ment made about Dr. Betty Shabazz. dealt with. But this girl had Malcolm’s of that tradition. He was born into a My fellow sisters are right that Dr. principle in her. She felt the necessity family of Baptist ministers which led Betty Shabazz was part of a family, to say that that had been wrong. I was him to get a wonderful education Malcolm, the children, the sisters, the never so impressed in my life. which led him to study philosophy. All She did not have to get in that. She daughters, so Dr. Betty Shabazz was a of this was growing into something. did not have to take the chance that wife, a mother, noble, queenly, an edu- That is very different from becoming there were some in the audience who cator, a nurturer. She certainly was a somebody different, from leaving be- thought maybe you should boo Giuliani grandmother, proudly so, something hind somebody who you were, recogniz- and so you might turn them off. She she did not rebuke; and I believe that it ing and taking responsibility to say did not have to get in it. She got in it. is true in life and, yes, in death. that was the wrong person, that is not As an aside, she said, and by the way, She showed up places and she was a who I want to be, and becoming some- it is wrong in this service to boo the bright star and clearly she provided a body else. light for us. I hope that as she now Very few of us can become somebody mayor or anyone else. She had to say it. It was a matter of principle for her. watches us, and as Dr. Betty Shabazz else while growing, as a matter of prin- sleeps on peacefully, that we will take ciple. That is what Malcolm El-Hajj Teach girl, I thought. That is what Malcolm would have done. Malcolm to heart the partnership that she had Malik El-Shabazz did, and when you with Malcolm X, one who did believe in wear those T-shirts, do understand that would have said, hey, silence is not a moral act. The moral act is to say, humankind; and that those who wish to you are not wearing T-shirts of the emulate and imitate this dynamic of- man who spoke of white devils because that was wrong and I am going to take the consequences. I am going to stand fering to this Nation and this world, Malcolm, who became a Sunni Muslim, Dr. Shabazz and Malcolm X, that they said that is not who I am anymore. I up and say it. That is Malcolm. That was Attalah. will imitate the realness of who they am Malcolm El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz are, people who reached out in obsta- who embraces the notion that we must That legacy is in her. It was in her with great eloquence. This is family I cles and adversity and fought against become one people. the tide. That is who he was, and I have had revere for the way in which their val- many a conversation with Betty ues have been spread across their fam- And so my tribute tonight is to rec- Shabazz about that Malcolm. This was ily. These values feed on one another. I ognize that I have many miles to travel the last and the final Malcolm, and don’t know where they come from. I to be able to capture the bright and that is the Malcolm who deserves our cannot say Attalah got this from Mal- shining star still remaining here given greatest respect. That is the Malcolm colm. She was such a little girl. I do to us by Dr. Betty Shabazz, and like- whom history will remember now, not not know that Betty got her sense of wise I have many miles to travel in only as a revered leader of my own universal brotherhood from the final order to capture the spirit and the dy- black community but as a far more Malcolm. I do not know that. All I namic strength of Malcolm X. But my universal figure, standing for universal know is that in families those things commitment to you, to the gentle- principles and standing for the just come together and that is what woman from the District of Columbia strength of character to change who he being a family is all about. I hope we who has expressed such deep and abid- was. all regard ourselves as part of that ing friendship; as I see the chairwoman Oh, do I wish I could put aside some family as well. of the Black Caucus, who likewise of my habits and tomorrow wake up Mr. Speaker, I yield now to the gen- shares that relationship, that we will and say, Eleanor, that part of Eleanor tlewoman from Texas [Ms. JACKSON- not stand and allow the clock to be is not anymore, I can say with assur- LEE], another very good Member of turned back, the light to be darkened, ance that there is a new Eleanor here. this body. the daughters of Malcolm and Dr. That kind of strength of character I Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Betty Shabazz to be forgotten or ig- find simply awesome. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman nored, the grandchildren that represent I have to tell you that at the memo- from the District of Columbia. The so many who may have lost their way rial service that I attended for Betty words will be few but heartfelt, only to be abandoned by us. H6776 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 3, 1997 b 2100 and this kind of presence that many of and she went on to do and be what Mal- As we continue our service in the us have never witnessed before. colm would want her to do. Not only U.S. Congress, our commitment will be And so I met Malcolm X and I can re- did she find a way to raise the children, to lift up the bloodstained banner, but call being in Los Angeles, going to she went back to school. This is a lift it up with the understanding that wherever I would hear he was going to woman who got a Ph.D. This is a Dr. Betty Shabazz lived, Malcolm be, to listen one more time. I was find- woman who not only became the pro- lived, the family lived, and they will ing my own self in those years, coming fessor, the teacher, the leader; she live on through us. I thank the gentle- to grips with not only my philosophy spread out in the overall community, woman from the District of Columbia about life but about what I really felt in this country, and went on to become for her leadership on this special order. about what I had learned, my experi- a speaker, a leader, someone who Ms. NORTON. I want to thank the ence growing up in St. Louis. And so I joined with her sisters to try and make gentlewoman from Texas for those re- met Malcolm X, I listened to him. I life better for others. This was a markable words about Betty Shabazz. was profoundly influenced by him, car- woman who said to me once, ‘‘Maxine, If I had to bet money, I would have ried away with his brilliance, with his I came out to Los Angeles, and I had an been willing to do so that the next ability to articulate what I was feeling opportunity to speak with these young speaker would have to come to the so often. But I never asked, and what men, some of whom were in gangs, floor this evening. It is my very special about his family? What about his chil- some of whom had left the gangs, but pleasure to recognize at this time the dren? What about his wife? It was only they sat with me, and I had an oppor- gentlewoman from California [Ms. WA- after Malcolm’s death did I meet and tunity to talk with them and tell them TERS], who is at the same time the get to know Betty Shabazz. about Malcolm, and what Malcolm chairwoman of the Congressional Black Too often we see leaders, we see peo- would have them do.’’ And she said, Caucus. ple in high visibility roles, and some- ‘‘I’m coming back again. I’m going to Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank how we think about them without come back to talk with them. Because very much the gentlewoman from the thinking about them in relationship to I think it is important for me to share District of Columbia [Ms. NORTON]. I their families, their children, their what I know.’’ So this woman, raising thank her for taking the time to orga- home environment. After I met Betty children, teaching, being available to nize this tribute to Betty Shabazz. She Shabazz, I understood why Malcolm the many groups and organizations is one of the busiest persons in this could comfortably do what he did. In who demanded of her time, not only did House. Not only does she have the reg- order to be the leader that Malcolm X I see her all over this country at the ular legislative duties, but given all was, he had to have tremendous sup- many Malcolm X celebrations that go that is going on in the District, I know port and understanding. This was a on, we sat and talked about these cele- the hours that she is spending working woman who was with one of the most brations and her role and her respon- with the very serious problems that are controversial leaders of our time. This sibility. She never tired of responding confronting this District and this Na- was a woman who knew that her life to the request. tion. I want to tell her, for her to have and the life of her children were in dan- I would often see her at the Congres- time to get us to stop and focus and do ger. Their house was set afire. This was sional Black Caucus dinners. We hold this tribute is more than admirable. I a woman who knew that even though these Congressional Black Caucus admire her stamina, and her courage, her husband had evolved to a point weekends, and she would always come, but I also deeply respect the fact that where as some describe him as more and we would joke, ‘‘Well, she won’t be she decided no matter how busy she is, international, more wanting to bring with us at this Congressional Black that our dear friend and sister Betty people together, there were people who Caucus weekend.’’ But she will cer- Shabazz deserves the attention of this did not feel the same way as I felt and tainly be remembered. House, of this body. I thank very much many, many others felt about Malcolm Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from the District of X. But this was a woman who loved her the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia. husband. This was a woman who raised Columbia and the other members of the Mr. Speaker, let me just say that she the babies. This was a woman who Congressional Black Caucus for helping and I both attended the memorial serv- knew that at any point in time, her me to select Betty Shabazz as one of ices for Dr. Betty Shabazz in New husband could be killed, her house the awardees. I as the chairwoman of York. We were there and we watched as could be burned, she could be killed, the Congressional Black Caucus will be people came from all over this Nation but she believed in Malcolm X and they presenting awards to Betty Shabazz, to pay tribute to Betty Shabazz. We believed in each other. He loved Betty posthumously, and to Coretta Scott watched our friends mount the podium Shabazz and Betty Shabazz loved Mal- King and to Myrlie Evers, 3 women who there and talk about their relationship colm X. have lost their husbands, 3 women with her. We watched people she has And so, even though I had not met whose husbands were the civil rights worked with both in the political her, I did not know her, it became very, leaders recorded in history never to be arena, in academia, step forward to tell very clear to me after meeting her why forgotten, 3 women who stood by their us about their very special relationship Malcolm X was able to do and be in the husbands, who raised the children with this remarkable woman. When I manner that he was. And so this Betty while their husbands were shot down in was there, I talked a little bit about Shabazz that I met was not a woman America, but who did not go away, who Betty Shabazz, my friend that I have with her head hanging down, it was not did not vanish, who did not become so worked with, that I have known, that I a woman who had been scarred by the devastated that they did not continue have spent time with, that I have ex- assassination of her husband, it was to play a role in American life. They changed all kinds of information with, not a woman whose very life, existence are all speakers, they are all heads of about our families, et cetera. But I and ability to thrive, this was a organizations, they are all teachers, could not help but think about how woman, a very wise woman, who, of they are all keepers of the flame of the long it took me to meet Betty Shabazz, course, felt the deep pain of having lost faith. And so we are going to award even though I had met Malcolm many this brilliant man that she loved, but them the chairwoman’s award at the years ago. this was a woman who had counseled Congressional Black Caucus weekend. Of course, I and the Nation met Mal- with her husband, had talked through We are going to say to them, thank colm X as he came forth with his bril- the possibility of his death. This was a you for being who you are. We are liant oratory and presence to help woman who witnessed her husband’s going to say thank you for persisting make this Nation think about who we assassination with her babies but was in the quest for freedom, justice and are and what we are doing, to help not destroyed by it. This was a woman equality despite what was done to your draw attention to the injustices of our whose wisdom goes far beyond that husbands. We are going to say to own society, to help us to articulate which most of us hope to be able to Coretta Scott King and to Myrlie our pain, to force legislative bodies to achieve. Evers, we love you, we love you and we pay attention. He did all of that, this She suffered the pain of the loss of want you to know that. We want to use magnificent man with this brilliance her husband, she mourned his death, the most important platform that we September 3, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6777 have in the Congressional Black Cau- portant Special Order. It has been al- I once again would like to simply cus, and to Betty, who we will not be ready said about the outstanding work thank the gentlewoman from the Dis- able to say it to because she is gone that she does here in the District fight- trict here, and I appreciate having the now, to her children who will be there ing for the people of the District, as opportunity to address the House. and Attalah, her daughter, who will ac- she fought for people here in the entire f cept the award, we want them to know United States of America when she had GOOD NEWS FOR AMERICA that we loved their mother, and that a tremendous, important administra- we hold her in the highest of esteem, tive position years ago, and she contin- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under and we hope that this small token that ues to do that work. the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- we are able to present that evening And to the chairperson of the Con- uary 7, 1997, the gentleman from Wis- from all of us will speak to our love for gressional Black Caucus, Ms. WATERS consin [Mr. NEUMANN] is recognized for them. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentle- from California, she continues to lead 60 minutes. woman for allowing us the opportunity the caucus in unprecedented times. We Mr. NEUMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to focus some attention from this are so proud of the outstanding work tonight to talk about good news for House on Betty Shabazz. that the caucus has done, and I would America. Ms. NORTON. I thank the gentle- just like to, as I was in my office work- I just had a wonderful opportunity woman for those remarkable remarks. ing, and I turned to this channel and during the past month to see lots of This special order would not have been saw that this Special Order was being folks all across Wisconsin, and it was the same without her. done, I was unaware of it but felt it was very educational for me and, I hope, for Mr. Speaker, in closing, I simply extremely important to me to come some of the folks we saw that they want to thank not only the chair- over and to say a few words. picked up on some of the good things woman of the Congressional Black Cau- I knew Betty Shabazz very well, be- that have happened here in the last cus but the other Members and friends cause living in Newark, NJ, she was month or thereabouts out here in not far away, and about a month before who came forward at a time when Washington. the tragedy I had the opportunity to be many of us are thinking through ways The one thing that struck me, in her company three or four times. to transform ourselves into better peo- though, as I talked to more and more First, we had a meeting in Mount Ver- ple, to transform our country into a of our families across Wisconsin and non, the Constituency for Africa. better place, and when I, I must say, our senior citizens across Wisconsin Mayor David Dinkins was there, Con- Mr. Speaker, am trying to think of a and some of our young people, college gressman RANGEL, Mel Foote called in way to transform my own city into a age students across Wisconsin, they did from the Constituency of Africa in Mrs. united city that will regain its own not really realize that the tax cut bill Shabazz’s hometown, and of course the human rights and that will reform its has been signed into law, so I would first person to speak after the invoca- like to begin this evening by pointing own agencies at such a time I find tion was given at the church was Doc- great inspiration in the life and work out that the tax cut bill, along with tor Betty Shabazz, because she not the first balanced budget since 1969 and of Malcolm X and in the life and work only worked for people in this area and of Betty Shabazz. restoring Medicare, has all been signed. in this country, but worldwide, and she It is done. The ink is dry. The Presi- Mr. BISHOP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to was loved by everyone. pay tribute to a great woman and humani- dent signed it. It has passed the House. I know Dr. Edison Jackson, who was It has passed the Senate. First bal- tarian, Dr. Betty Shabazz. Her family lost a the president of Medgar Evers College, mother, grandmother, or sister but the world anced budget since 1969, taxes coming he was the former president of Essex down for the first time in 16 years, and lost a friend and a symbol of inspiration to all County College in Newark, NJ, where I of us. In her death, Dr. Shabazz leaves a leg- Medicare restored for at least a decade. live, and the wisdom of President Jack- That is what was accomplished before acy of dedication to family, a quality that is son to see the worth of a Betty we left for recess in August. much praised but little practiced. Her impact Shabazz, to have her lead the light for will be felt for a period much longer than we The other thing I learned is that not that great institution named after, as very many people really understood realize right now. has been mentioned, Medgar Evers, an- what was in the tax cut bill, and I Her much recognized qualities of persever- other person who was taken away from would start talking to people and I ance and determination were first publicly rec- us, and his wife Myrlie Evers carried would say, ‘‘Well, the budget is bal- ognized after her husband's death on Feb- the torch, and so it is unique; as a mat- anced, that’s the most important thing ruary 21, 1965. Betty Shabazz, left with no ter of fact, the college that Dr. Edison we could do, and that was our respon- source of income to provide for her four young Jackson at Essex County taught at be- sibility, and that’s done, and at the daughters and the twins she was pregnant fore going to Medgar Evers after leav- same time we’ve reduced your taxes.’’ with, was determined to raise her children and ing California on Martin Luther King And they go, ‘‘yeah, sure, but that af- did so alone. Along with taking care of six chil- Boulevard. Doctor Shabazz, it is alto- fects somebody else.’’ dren, she completed her nursing school edu- gether. And then we would start through it, cation and went on to earn bachelor's, mas- I would just like to say that then she and the first question would be: Do you ter's and doctorate degrees. Dr. Shabazz lived came over to Newark about 2 weeks be- have children? And this is so impor- the dictums of self-reliance, discipline and fore the tragedy and spoke out at com- tant. If you have children age 17 or education as espoused by her husband, Mal- munity meetings. She was always younger for virtually all families out colm X. there, grass-roots people. She would there, 550,000 Wisconsin families alone, Our prayers are with the family in this hour come to the caucus and go to all of the you are eligible to keep $400 more for of grief. I ask my colleagues to join me in re- sessions and rush around because ev- each one of your children in your own membering the many contributions Dr. eryone wanted to see her. home next year instead of sending it to Shabazz has made to our country and to the And so we have lost a tremendous Washington. world. person. It is unfortunate that tragedies We should make this very clear. This f take people. This week we are hearing the tragedy of the great Princess of is not somehow a gift from Washington b 2115 Wales taken away unnecessarily, and to the people. This is money that the people get up in the morning, they go TRIBUTE TO BETTY SHABAZZ once again Dr. Betty Shabazz. So I think that we have to remember to their jobs, they work hard, and they The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a and we have to always be aware of the earn the money, but instead of sending previous order of the House, the gen- fact that we all have to do more in our it to Washington, they keep it in their tleman from New Jersey [Mr. PAYNE] is own way. She was a great person. own homes to spend on their own fami- recognized for 5 minutes. I, too, attended the memorial service lies and the way they see fit. That is Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me also and David Dinkins and Basil Patterson the first part of the tax code. add my accolades to the gentlewoman and Percy Sutton did such outstanding And I am going to put this a little from the District of Columbia, Dele- jobs as they brought this community different so folks have a handle on how gate NORTON, for calling this very im- together. important and significant this is.