H522 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 29, 2000 because I expect that the Lower Sioux passed legislation allowing individual fee par- There was no objection. community is not the only Native cels of tribal land to be sold. Congress has on f American group in the United States several occasions in recent years adopted leg- SPECIAL ORDERS that faces this type of obstacle to the islation similar to that which the Community disposition of land that it has pur- seeks. HERITAGE AND HORIZONS: THE chased which has not been in trust sta- For example, P.L. 86±505, § 1, 74 Stat. 199, AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGACY tus which is off of its reservation area. authorizing the Navajo Tribe to dispose of its AND THE CHALLENGES OF THE As we see here in the 21st century, we fee lands without federal approval; P.L. 101± 21ST CENTURY have a number of Native American 630, 104 Stat. 4531, authorizing the sale of a The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under communities that are becoming more parcel of land owned in fee simple by the the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- prosperous. They are engaging in com- Rumsey Indian Rancheria; P.L. 101±379, § 11, uary 6, 1999, the gentlewoman from merce. I think that it would certainly 104 Stat. 473, authorizing the Eastern Band of Ohio (Mrs. JONES) is recognized for 60 facilitate the activities of these com- Cherokee Indians to convey a particular parcel minutes as the designee of the minor- munities if, in these fairly well-defined of its fee land; P.L. 102±497, § 4, 106 Stat. ity leader. situations where there is not a concern 3255, authorizing the Mississippi Band of Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speak- about any abuse in connection with the Choctaw Indians to convey certain lands er, it is always a great opportunity for assets of the community, that they had which it owned in fee. me to have opportunity to address the the flexibility to, on their own, make The Supreme Court has never ruled that the Congress in a special order, particu- these transfers and not have the cloud wording of the INA does not apply to fee larly when the gentlewoman from Mis- on title that exists in situations such lands. In fact, in a case decided just last year, souri (Mrs. EMERSON) is the Speaker as this one. the Court made a point of saying that the pro tempore. I have worked with the community question is open: ``This Court has never deter- Our theme today is Heritage and Ho- in crafting this legislation, with the mined whether the Indian Nonintercourse Act rizons: The African American Legacy administration, and also with the com- . . . applies to land that has been rendered and the Challenges of the 21st Century. mittee and subcommittee staff. I would alienable. . . . Cass County v. Leech Lake As we come to the close of the cele- like to express my appreciation to the Bank,'' U.S., 118 S.Ct. 1904 (1998). The as- brated African American history staff, members of both the committee sumption has been, and still is, that the Act month, it is a great opportunity for the and the subcommittee. prevents the sale of fee land without congres- Congressional Black Caucus to orga- At the request of the Lower Sioux Indian sional approval. This is the legal position of nize a special order to celebrate black Community I have sponsored legislation that the United States, citing the amicus brief of history. I want to thank the gentleman would exempt land owned in fee by the Com- the United States in the Cass County case. from South Carolina (Chairman CLY- munity from the effect of the Indian Noninter- And the Department of the Interior has taken BURN) for designating me to organize course Act, 25 U.S.C. 177 (1994) (INA). In re- the position that it cannot not give the Lower this special order. cent years, the Community has acquired sev- Sioux Community permission to sell fee land I took up the mantle after my prede- eral parcels of property outside the boundaries because Congress has not given the Depart- cessor, the Congressman from the 11th of its Reservation. It is likely that not all of ment that authority. Congressional District of Ohio, Con- those parcels will not be needed for the devel- Most importantly, purchasers assume that gressman Louis Stokes, who had this opment which the Community contemplates. the consent of Congress is required before responsibility for his 30 years in Therefore, the Community should have the tribal fee land can be sold. The effect of all Congress. ability to dispose of any unneeded portions of this is that the Lower Sioux Community is sty- The theme for this year’s Black His- fee land as and when appropriate purchasers mied. The wording of the INA seems to say tory Special Order is Heritage and Ho- may appear. At present it is unclear whether that congressional permission is needed to rizons: The African American Legacy the INA prohibits such transactions absent an sell fee land; the Justice Department acknowl- and the Challenges of the 21st Century. As we embark upon a new millen- Act of Congress. It was this problem which edges that; the Department of the Interior ac- nium, I believe it painful and powerful prompted the Community to seek legislation knowledges that; Congress has acknowledged that; and purchasers acknowledge that. This that this theme allows us to pay trib- that will permit similar conveyances without re- ute to our past and allows us to make sorting to the cumbersome and time-con- bill will solve that problem for the Lower Sioux Indian Community. This is a matter of fairness. plans for our future. The question is suming legislative process each time an indi- Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam how do we plan for our future. One way vidual sale is agreed to. Speaker, I have no further speakers, is to plan for our future by giving trib- The terms of the INA does not distinguish and I yield back the balance of my ute to our past, learning the lessons of between fee land and trust land. My bill states time. our past and paying tribute to our suc- that ``No conveyance of lands from any tribe of Mr. SHERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I cesses as a people. Indians shall be of any validity unless the yield back the balance of my time. I believe the past can serve as a blue- same be made by treaty or convention en- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. print for future generations on how to tered into pursuant to the Constitution.'' In the EMERSON). The question is on the mo- get things done. past, this has been interpreted to mean that tion offered by the gentleman from There are many events that have Congress must either give direct approval or Pennsylvania (Mr. SHERWOOD) that the shaped and defined the African Amer- must establish the process for giving such ap- House suspend the rules and pass the ican experience in America today that proval. Although Congress has allowed the bill, H.R. 2484. never should be forgotten. What should Secretary of the Interior to approve the con- The question was taken; and (two- never be forgotten is the sacrifice that veyance of lands owned in trust for tribes by thirds having voted in favor thereof) others have made to ensure future gen- the United States, Congress has never set up the rules were suspended and the bill erations’ success. any process for approving the conveyance of was passed. For that reason, I have chosen to fee lands. A motion to reconsider was laid on highlight my predecessor, the former The ``clouding'' effect of the INA is illustrated the table. Representative, Congressman Louis in a discussion contained in a brief filed with f Stokes. He retired from Congress on the United States Supreme Court by the January 2, 1999. He currently serves as United States Department of Justice, in Cass GENERAL LEAVE senior counsel at Squire, Sanders and County, Minnesota v. Leech Lake Band of Mr. SHERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I Dempsey, a worldwide law firm based Chippewa Indians. The brief observed that ask unanimous consent that all Mem- in Washington, D.C. He is also a mem- ``[i]n recent times, Congress and the Executive bers may have 5 legislative days within ber of the faculty at Case-Western Re- Branch have assumed that the INA requires which to revise and extend their re- serve University in Cleveland, Ohio, congressional approval of sales of all tribally marks and include extraneous material where he is a senior visiting scholar at owned lands, whether or not those lands are on H.R. 1749, S. 613, and H.R. 2484, the the Mandel School of Applied Social within a reservation''. [Brief of the United three bills just debated. Sciences. States as Amicus Curiae, supporting Re- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there On November 6, 1968, Louis Stokes spondent, Case No. 97±174 (January, 1998), objection to the request of the gen- was elected to the United States Con- at 28 (footnote 13).] Congress repeatedly has tleman from Pennsylvania? gress on his first bid for public office.

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29FE7.024 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 February 29, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H523 By virtue of his election, he became Let us talk a little bit about Con- the House Committee on Appropria- the first African American Member of gressman Louis Stokes’ congressional tions Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Congress from the State of Ohio. First career. In his first term in public of- Independent Agencies. He also served sworn in at the 91st Congress, Con- fice, he served as a member of the Com- as a member of the Subcommittee on gressman Stokes served 15 consecutive mittee on Education and Labor in the Labor, Health and Human Services and terms in the United States House of House, Committee on un-American Ac- Education, and the Subcommittee on Representatives. When he retired at tivities, later renamed the House Com- the District of Columbia. the end of the 105th Congress, he be- mittee on Internal Security. Congressman Stokes is married to came the first African American in the In his second term, he was appointed Jeanette (Jay) Stokes. He has children: history of the United States Congress the first African American to sit on the Shelley, Angela, Louis, and Lorene. to retire having completed 30 years in Committee on Appropriations in the Angela is an elected official in Cleve- office. House. On February 8, 1972, Louis land in the Cleveland municipal court. In the 105th Congress, Representative Stokes was elected as the chairman of Shelley and Louis C. are both involved Stokes was a member of the Com- the Congressional Black Caucus. He in broadcasting, one in New York and mittee on Appropriations where, by served two consecutive terms. the other in Michigan. virtue of his seniority, he was the In addition to his seat on the power- He has several grandchildren. He is a third-ranking minority member of the ful Committee on Appropriations, on graduate of the Cleveland public full committee and the ranking minor- February 5, 1975, he was elected by the schools, Case-Western Reserve Univer- ity member of the Subcommittee on Democratic Caucus to serve on the sity, and Cleveland Marshall College of VA, HUD and Independent Agencies. In newly formed House Committee on Law where he received his doctor of addition, he served as a member of the Budget. He was re-elected to the Com- law. Subcommittee on Labor, Health and mittee on Budget twice, serving a total He has been given numerous designa- Human Services and Education. of 6 years. tions and honors, among them, the 100 He was the ninth Ranking Demo- On September 21, 1976, Representa- Most Influential Black Americans/ cratic Member of Congress. By virtue tive Stokes was appointed by Speaker Black Achievement Award. The Louis of his seniority, Congressman Stokes Carl Albert to serve on the House Se- Stokes Bridge was named in his honor, also served as the Dean of the Ohio lect Committee on Assassinations. The which is a bridge over Lake Shore Bou- Congressional Delegation. He is also a committee had a mandate to conduct levard over Euclid Creek; Louis Stokes founding member of the Congressional an investigation and study of the cir- Telecommunications Center/Cuyahoga Black Caucus and chaired the CBC cumstances surrounding the deaths of Community College; the Central High Health Braintrust. President John F. Kennedy and Dr. School Hall of Fame; the Louis Stokes He was born February 23, 1925 in Martin Luther King, Jr. On March 8, Community Center; the Louis Stokes Cleveland, Ohio to the late Charles and 1977, Speaker Thomas P. O’Neill ap- Wing of the Cleveland Public Library. Louise Stokes. His father died when he pointed Congressman Stokes as chair- A street is called Stokes Boulevard in was a young boy and Louis and his man of this committee. On December the city of Cleveland named after him brother, the late Ambassador Carl B. 31, 1978, Congressman Stokes com- and his brother. There is a Louis Stokes, were reared by their young pleted these historic investigations and Stokes Health Sciences Center at Case- widowed mother. filed with the House of Representatives Western Reserve University. There is a Stokes was educated in the Cleveland 27 volumes of hearings, a final report, Louis Stokes HUD Hall of Fame. He public schools, graduating from Cen- tral High School. Following 3 years in and recommendations for administra- has been given the award by the Na- the United States Army, from 1943 to tive and legislative reform. tional Minority Transplant Hall of In February of 1980, in the 96th Con- 1946, he returned to Cleveland and uti- Fame. There is a Louis Stokes Head gress, Congressman Stokes was ap- lized the G.I. bill to attend Western Re- Start Day Care Center. There is a pointed by Speaker O’Neill to the serve University. He received his Doc- Stokes Rapid Transit Station in House Committee on Standards of Offi- tor of Laws degree from Cleveland Mar- Windermere. There is a Louis Stokes cial Conduct, also known as the Ethics shall Law School in 1953. Health Sciences Library at Howard Prior to his election to the United Committee. In the 97th, 98th, and 102nd University. There is a Stokes Web site. States Congress, Congressman Stokes Congresses, he was elected chairman of There is a Stokes Family Library practiced law for 14 years in Cleveland. this committee. Also, in the 101st Con- and Museum, which is housed at the He was chief trial counsel for the firm gress, Representative Stokes was ap- Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Au- of Stokes, Character, Terry, Perry, pointed by Speaker Wright to serve on thority in the area where Congressman Whitehead, Young and Davidson. As a the Ethics Task Force. Stokes grew up as a boy. There is a practicing lawyer, Representative In February of 1983, the 98th Con- Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Stokes participated in three cases in gress, Representative Stokes was ap- Veterans Affairs Medical Center. There the United States Supreme Court, in- pointed by Speaker O’Neill to the is a Louis Stokes building at the Na- cluding the landmark ‘‘stop and frisk’’ House Permanent Select Committee on tional Institutes of Health. case of Terry versus Ohio. Intelligence. In the 99th Congress, Rep- He has received more than 23 hon- Congressman Stokes’ younger broth- resentative Stokes was elected chair- orary degrees from colleges and univer- er, the late Carl B. Stokes, made his- man of the Subcommittee on Program sities across this country. tory in 1967 when he was elected mayor and Budget Authorization for the com- I would like to particularly person- of Cleveland, serving with distinction mittee. In January of 1987, the 100th ally pay tribute to Congressman Louis as the first black mayor of a major Congress, House Speaker Jim Wright Stokes. It is through his support and American city. Carl Stokes also en- appointed Congressman Stokes as encouragement that I stand here on joyed a career as an award-winning chairman of the Permanent Select the floor of the House of Representa- broadcaster and municipal court judge. Committee on Intelligence. In the 100th tives today. I can only recall with In 1994, he was appointed by President Congress, Representative Stokes was great admiration all of the wonderful Bill Clinton as U.S. Ambassador to the also appointed to serve on the House things that he did on my behalf and on Republic of Seychelles. Ambassador Select Committee to Investigate Cov- behalf of the 11th Congressional Dis- Stokes died in April 1996. ert Arms Transactions with Iran, and trict. For me to be able to stand, the Louise Stokes, a proud mother who the Pepper Commission on Comprehen- daughter of a skycap for United Air- always encouraged her sons to get an sive Health Care. lines and the daughter of a woman who education, lived to witness many of her As a result of the 1990 census and the worked in a factory, standing here as a sons’ historic achievements. Prior to redistricting mandate in 1992, the 21st Member of the House of Representa- her death in 1978, she was the recipient Congressional District of Ohio was re- tives, one of 39 African Americans who of numerous awards, including Cleve- designated as the 11th Congressional serve in the House of Representatives, land’s ‘‘Woman of the Year’’ award in District. In the 103rd Congress, which and in fact the first African American 1968 and Ohio’s ‘‘Mother of the Year’’ commenced in January of 1993, Con- woman to serve in the House of Rep- award in 1969. gressman Stokes was elected to chair resentatives from the State of Ohio.

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29FE7.026 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 H524 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 29, 2000 It gives me great pleasure to be able historic achievements. Prior to her death in Reserve University, Cleveland Marshall Law to recognize and give Congressman 1978, she was the recipient of numerous School (The Cleveland State University)— Stokes his roses while he can still awards including Cleveland’s ‘‘Woman of the Doctor of Jurisprudence. Year’’ award in 1968 and Ohio’s ‘‘Mother of DESIGNATIONS AND HONORS smell them on this February 29, the the Year’’ award in 1969. year 2000, as the CBC honors Black His- Throughout his tenure in the United CONGRESSIONAL CAREER tory Month. States Congress, Representatives Stokes has During his first term in public office (91st FORMER CONGRESSMAN LOUIS STOKES played a pivotal role in the quest for civil Congress), Congressman Stokes served as a rights, equality and social and economic jus- Former Congressman Louis Stokes retired member of the Education and Labor Com- tice. He is the recipient of countless awards from Congress on January 2, 1999. He is cur- mittee and the House Un-American Activi- and honors which recognize his strong lead- rently Senior Counsel at Squire, Sanders and ties Committee, later re-named the House ership and commitment. Dempsey L.L.P., a world-wide law firm based Internal Security Committee. In his second 100 Most Influential Black Americans/ in Washington, D.C. He is also a member of term in office (92nd Congress), he was ap- the faculty at Case-Western Reserve Univer- pointed the first black Member ever to sit on Black Achievement Award. Each year since sity, Cleveland, Ohio, where he is Senior Vis- the Appropriations Committee of the House. 1971, Congressman Stokes has been named by iting Scholar at the Mandel School of Ap- On February 8, 1972, Louis Stokes was elect- Ebony Magazine as one of the ‘‘100 Most In- plied Social Sciences. ed as Chairman of the Congressional Black fluential Black Americans.’’ In 1979, he was On November 6, 1968, Louis Stokes was Caucus. He served two consecutive terms in nominated by Ebony in three categories for elected to the United States Congress on his this office. In addition to his seat on the the Second Annual American Black Achieve- first bid for public office. By virtue of his powerful Appropriations Committee, on Feb- ment Awards. His nomination was based election, he became the first African Amer- ruary 5, 1975, he was elected by the Demo- upon his becoming the first African Amer- ican Member of Congress from the State of cratic Caucus to serve on the newly formed ican to head a major congressional inves- Ohio. First sworn in at the 91st Congress, Budget Committee of the House. He was re- tigation and to preside over nationally tele- Representative Stokes served fifteen con- elected to the Budget Committee twice, serv- vised hearings which revealed new facts on secutive terms in the United States House of ing a total of six years. the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Representatives. When he retired at the end On September 21, 1976 (94th Congress) Rep- Jr., and President John F. Kennedy. of the 105th Congress, he became the first Af- resentative Stokes was appointed by Speaker William Dawson Award. Congressman rican American in the history of the U.S. Carl Albert to serve on the House Select Stokes has twice received the Congressional Congress to retire having completed 30 years Committee on Assassinations. The Com- Black Caucus’ William L. Dawson Award. In in office. mittee had a mandate to conduct an inves- 1980, Congressman Stokes was presented the In the 105th Congress, Representative tigation and study of the circumstances sur- prestigious award in recognition of his Stokes was a member of the Appropriations rounding the deaths of President John F. ‘‘unique leadership in the development of Committee where, by virtue of his seniority, Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On legislation.’’ In 1994, he received the second he was the third ranking minority member March 8, 1977, Speaker Thomas P. O’Neill ap- Dawson Award for ‘‘significant research, or- of the full committee, and the ranking mi- pointed Congressman Stokes as Chairman of ganizational and leadership contributions in nority member of the Subcommittee on Vet- this committee. On December 31, 1978, Con- the development of legislation that address- erans Affairs-Housing and Urban Develop- gressman Stokes completed these historic es the needs of minorities in the United ment-Independent Agencies. In addition, he investigations and filed with the House of States. served as a member of the Subcommittee on Representatives 27 volumes of hearings, a Louis Stokes Bridge. On June 24 1988, the Labor-Health and Human Services-Edu- Final Report and Recommendations for Ad- Board of County Commissioners Cuyahoga cation. In the Congress, Representative ministrative and Legislative Reform. County dedicated the Lake Shore Boulevard Stokes ranked eleventh overall in House se- In February of 1980 (96th Congress), Con- Bridge over Euclid Creek as the ‘‘Louis niority. He was the ninth ranking Demo- gress Stokes was appointed by Speaker Stokes Bridge,’’ in recognition of Congress- cratic Member of Congress. By virtue of his O’Neill to the House Committee on Stand- man Stokes’ leadership in public service, and seniority, Congressman Stokes also served as ards of Official Conduct (Ethics Committee). his support for federal funding to support Dean of the Ohio Congressional Delegation. In the 97th, 98th, and 102nd Congresses, he road and bridge improvement projects. He is also a founding member of the Congres- was elected Chairman of this committee. Louis Stokes Telecommunications Center/ Also, in the 101st Congress, Representative sional Black Caucus (CBC) and chaired the Cuyahoga Community College. On Sep- Stokes was appointed by Speaker Wright to CBC Health Braintrust. tember 24, 1988, Cuyahoga Community Col- serve on the Ethics Task Force. lege designated the Louis Stokes Tele- BACKGROUND In February of 1983 (98th Congress), Rep- communications Center in the Unified Tech- Congressman Stokes was born on February resentative Stokes was appointed by Speaker nologies Center in honor of Congressman 23, 1925, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late O’Neill to the House Permanent Select Com- Stokes. Charles and Louise Stokes. His father died mittee on Intelligence. In the 99th Congress, when he was a young boy and Louis and his Representative Stokes was elected Chairman Central High School Hall of Fame. On brother, the late Ambassador Carl B. Stokes, of the Subcommittee on Program and Budget March 30, 1990, Congressman Stokes’ alma were reared by their young widowed mother. Authorization for the committee. In January mater, Central High School (now Central Stokes was educated in the Cleveland Public of 1987 (100th Congress), House Speaker Jim Middle School) recognized his historic Schools, graduating from Central High Wright appointed Congressman Stokes as achievements by presenting him with the School. Following three years in the United Chairman of the Intelligence Committee. In school’s Alumnus Award and including him States Army from 1943 to 1946, he returned to the 100th Congress, Representative Stokes into the school’s Hall of Fame. On that occa- Cleveland and utilized the G.I. Bill to attend was also appointed to serve on the House Se- sion, the school also dedicated its audito- Western Reserve University. He received his lect Committee to Investigate Covert Arms rium as the ‘‘Louis Stokes Auditorium.’’ Doctor of Laws Degree from Cleveland Mar- Transactions with Iran, and the Pepper Com- Louis Stokes Community Center. On Sep- shall Law School in 1953. mission on Comprehensive Health Care. tember 5, 1992, in recognition of the achieve- Prior to his election to the United States As a result of the 1990 census and the redis- ments of Ohio’s first and only African Amer- Congress, Congressman Stokes practiced law tricting mandate, in 1992 the 21st Congres- ican to serve in the United States Congress, for fourteen years in Cleveland. He was chief sional District of Ohio was re-designated as the community center in Outhwaite Homes trial counsel for the firm of Stokes, Char- the 11th Congressional District. In the 103rd was renamed as the ‘‘Louis Stokes Commu- acter, Terry, Perry, Whitehead, Young and Congress, which commenced in January of nity Center’’ by the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Davidson. As a practicing lawyer, Represent- 1993, Congressman Stokes was elected to Housing Authority. ative Stokes participated in three cases in chair the House Appropriations Sub- Louis Stokes Wing/Cleveland Public Li- the United States Supreme Court, including committee on VA–HUD–Independent Agen- brary. On January 19, 1994, the Cleveland the landmark ‘‘stop and frisk’’ case of Terry cies. He also served as a member of the Sub- Public Library Board of Trustees unani- v. Ohio. committee on Labor-Health and Human mously adopted a resolution to name the Congressman Stokes’ younger brother, the Services-Education and the Subcommittee new Cleveland Public Library East Wing in late Carl B. Stokes, made history in 1967 on the District of Columbia. honor of Congressman Stokes. The resolu- when he was elected Mayor of Cleveland, PERSONAL INFORMATION tion stated that his career ‘‘has extended into areas of law, civil rights, support for serving with distinction as the first black Birthdate: February 23, 1925. mayor of a major American city. Carl Stokes Wife: Jeanette (Jay) Stokes. education and public libraries, and congres- also enjoyed a career as an award-winning Children: Shelley, Angela, Louis C. and sional, national and local leadership on a broadcaster and municipal court judge. In Lorene. wide range of issues important to the Cleve- 1994, he was appointed by President Bill Clin- Grandchildren: Brett S., Eric S., and Grant land area and the nation.’’ ton as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of W. Hammond; Kelley C. and Kimberly L. Stokes Boulevard—Cleveland, Ohio. To Seychelles. Ambassador Stokes died in April Stokes; Alexandra F. and Nicolette S. mark Congressman Stokes’ historic achieve- 1996. Louise Stokes, a proud mother who al- Thompson. ments in the United States Congress, the ways encouraged her sons to get an edu- Education: Cleveland Public Schools City of Cleveland voted on June 6, 1994 to cation, lived to witness many of her sons’ (Giddings and Central High School), Western designate East 107th Street and portion of

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29FE7.028 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 February 29, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H525 Fairhill Road as ‘‘Stokes Boulevard.’’ Appro- nibus Appropriations Bill to fund the Depart- tory we could never have gotten to the priate signs mark this special salute to Con- ments of Labor-Health and Human Services- civil rights remedies, because the por- gressman Stokes. Education. The bill includes language desig- trayals of African Americans were so Case Western Reserve University/Louis nating Building #50, the Consolidated Lab- Stokes Health Sciences Center. Case Western oratories Building on the campus of the Na- pervasively stereotyped and negative Reserve University honored Congressman tional Institutes of Health, in honor of Con- after slavery, with Jim Crow and all Stokes on June 24, 1994 with the dedication gressman Stokes. The renaming honors Con- that it stood for, that Carter G. of the ‘‘Louis Stokes Health Science Cen- gressman Stokes for his staunch leadership Woodson’s work looms much larger ter.’’ Congressman Stokes was lauded for his on the health front. than life. He started the Association work ‘‘to improve the lives of all Americans Honorary Degrees. Congressman Stokes is for the Study of Negro Life and His- and to ensure the full participation of mem- the recipient of 23 honorary Degrees from colleges and universities across the nation. tory, which continues his work today. bers of minority groups in the many initia- They would like to occupy this house tives in health, science, education, and pub- The degrees were conferred upon Congress- lic welfare.’’ man Stokes in recognition of his national when it is fully renovated. He used his Louis Stokes HUD ‘‘Hall of Fame.’’ On leadership and strong commitment to public house not only to live but to train re- April 5, 1995, the U.S. Department of Housing service. searchers. It is a glorious history in and Urban Development inducted Congress- Madam Speaker, it gives me great and of itself. man Stokes into the nation’s first ‘‘Public pleasure to yield to the gentlewoman May I say to the gentlewoman, I Housing Hall of Fame.’’ Located in HUD’s from the District of Columbia (Ms. would like to remark on some unfin- Washington, D.C. Headquarters, the Hall of NORTON). ished business having to do with Afri- Fame recognizes Congressman Stokes as a Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I can Americans. This is a majority strong advocate of safe and affordable hous- thank the gentlewoman from Ohio ing for America’s families. black city. Historically it was the cap- National Minority Transplant Hall of (Mrs. JONES) for yielding to me. Even ital of black intellectual life because of Fame. On September 18, 1996, Congressman more so, I thank her for the leadership Howard University and because freed Stokes was chosen for inclusion in the first she is showing in making sure that the and runaway slaves often found their National Minority Transplant Hall of Fame. month of February does not go by way here. The Capitol where we now The designation recognizes Stokes’ strong without yet another black history cele- debate was built with the help of slave leadership in the area of organ transplant bration in the name of her predecessor, labor. A glorious kind of intellectual education and awareness. I must say who was always in charge of Louis Stokes Head Start Day Care Center. leadership emanated from this city. It Dedicated during the weekend of June 20, this particular feature on the House always had a large black population, 1997, the ‘‘Louis Stokes Head Start Center’’ floor when he was here. probably because it was so close to the was built specifically to serve the needs of b 1445 South and, therefore, there was a large pre-school children in the Metropolitan segment of freed slaves and a large seg- And you follow in his footsteps in Cleveland Area. The Center was named for ment of runaway slaves, one of whom many ways, I say to the gentlewoman Congressman Stokes for his dedication in was my great grandfather. from Ohio, and this is a wonderful one fighting for the rights of Cleveland’s dis- This city has been the home of Ben- which both honors him and to make advantaged. jamin Banneker, who of course helped Stokes Rapid Transit Station/Windermere. sure that the Congressional Black Cau- design the city, and of many great Af- On November 17, 1997, Cleveland’s Regional cus is once again heard on this floor for rican Americans; Charles Drew, who is Transit Authority designated the Black History Month and all that it responsible for the discovery of the Windermere Rapid Transit Station as the stands for. ‘‘Louis Stokes Station at Windermere’’ in If I may say to the gentlewoman, I blood bank and the use of stored blood; honor of Congressman Stokes for his support Duke Ellington, whose 100th birthday for public transit. would like to discuss two subjects this afternoon related to black history. One we celebrated last year; Frederick Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library/ Douglass; Mary McLeod Bethune; Sen- Howard University. Howard University voted is some finished business that this to recognize Congressman Stokes for his House finished only this month, and ator Edward Brooke, who graduated strong leadership in the United States Con- the other is tragically unfinished. from the same high school I graduated gress. On August 11, 1998, Howard University The finished business has to do with from, Dunbar High School; and yet, paid tribute to ‘‘one of our nation’s most a bill that was passed on the floor on Madam Speaker, this is the only part prolific Members of Congress’’ by naming February 16 that will allow the home of of the United States where black and their new health sciences library ‘‘The Louis Carter G. Woodson to become a na- white people do not enjoy the full Stokes Health Science Center.’’ tional historic site under the National privileges of citizenship. Stokes Web Site. On August 11, 1998, top This used to be the place where peo- executives from Cleveland’s business com- Park Service. The reason that this was munity announced that a web site will be set so important is that Carter G. Woodson ple from the South came escaping the up in Congressman Stokes’ name to inform is the father of black history, the man harshness of segregation and terrible young people of internships, scholarships and who discovered black historiography, discrimination. We who live in the Dis- job training opportunities. The site will be the second black person to receive a trict, particularly we who are native called the ‘‘Living Legacy Project: Aim Ph.D. from Harvard in the early part of Washingtonians, have seen the whole of High.’’ Stokes was known for autographing this century, and yet his house, which the South come into its own, with peo- photos for young students with the phrase ple able to vote, as models for self-gov- ‘‘Aim High!’’ is a gorgeous Victorian house, stands The Stokes Family Library and Museum. closed, virtually boarded up. ernment throughout the South, and yet Unveiled during Cuyahoga Metropolitan So here we are celebrating Black His- in this town, where the majority of the Housing Authority’s Louis Stokes Day 1998, tory Month every year and right there population is African American, there on September 12, 1998, Congressman Stokes’ in the Shaw district, a historic part of is still not the same basic rights that boyhood home in the Outhwaite housing the district which was the virtual seat blacks throughout the South have fi- projects will be transformed into the of black America, is the home of the nally been able to win. ‘‘Stokes Family Library and Museum.’’ The man who is responsible for what was, I am the only representative of the Library will serve as a home for many of the when I was a child called Negro History District of Columbia. Although I won Congressman’s awards and memorabilia for the right to vote on the House floor, organizations around the country. Week and has developed into Black Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of History Month, closed. With the bill that vote was taken from me when the Veteran Affairs Medical Center. On October that the House passed just before we majority assumed power. We do not 6, 1998, on the floor of the United States recessed, Carter G. Woodson’s home have a full voting representative in House of Representatives, Congressman will be open to the public the way this House. We have no voting rep- Stokes was honored with the naming of the Frederick Douglass’ home is open to resentative in this House. Does this not Cleveland Department of Veteran Affairs the public in this city and the way that sound like the Old South? This is the Medical Center in his honor. The designation Mary McLeod Bethune’s home is open new capital. This is the capital of the recognizes a lawmaker who worked tirelessly United States I am talking about. on behalf of the nation’s veterans and other to the public, and will be kept open citizens throughout his 30-year career. under the National Park Service, as it There is rage in this town, particu- Louis Stokes Building, National Institutes deserves. larly because more than 60 percent of of Health. On October 20, 1998, the House of This man was of immense impor- the people are African Americans and Representatives voted for passage of an Om- tance. Without uncovering black his- have seen their folks down home come

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A29FE7.014 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 H526 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 29, 2000 into full citizenship, while in this town her and behind her. And I want to com- ceived acclaim for his speech. In 1907, we still exist without the basic rights mend her for constantly keeping an he was again elected to a 4-year term that everybody else takes for granted. issue that is so significant and very im- to the Baltimore City Council, rep- We saw the Congressional Black Cau- portant, and one that shows the con- resenting the 17th ward. He served two cus expanded by 50 percent, largely tradictions of this country and what we additional terms in 1911 and 1915. As a from people from the old Confederate are doing in this Congress, shows it up fellow University of Maryland grad- States, sent here by whites and African so clearly. I want to thank her for all uate, I am pleased to honor him. Americans; and yet we cannot send a that she does every day to keep us I also cite Thurgood Marshall, lawyer full voting Member to this House, even aware of the situation that we find our- and product of a Baltimore black mid- though we pay full Federal income tax. selves in in the very place where we dle class and the impetus for the Civil What we have done is to sue in court. write the laws. So I thank her. Rights movement in the United States. And I say to my colleagues, every time I want to go on to say, Madam Beginning his career, he served as an attempt is made to attach a rider to Speaker, that this month, through a counsel to the Baltimore branch of the the appropriation of the District of Co- series of Dear Colleague Letters, I sa- NAACP. He argued cases before the lumbia, consisting of our money not luted several famous African American United States Supreme Court 32 times, these other Members, democracy is de- Marylanders, and today I rise again to winning 29 cases. He is probably most famed in the United States. And that is recognize African Americans from my famous for Brown versus Board of Edu- why my colleagues will see me on this home district of Baltimore, Maryland, cation, which we won in 1954. floor and will always see me on this for their significant contributions to b 1500 floor as long as I am a Member of this the American political and educational House reminding my fellow colleagues process, and for distinguishing them- With this success, doors were opened of that defamation of democracy. The selves as the first African Americans to ending segregated schools and edu- court suit we have brought intends to achieve in their chosen professions. cational inequalities for African Amer- rectify this situation, since we have The recognition of these individuals icans. Using the legal process, not been able to get it rectified in this comes as we nationally observe Black Thurgood Marshall’s legacy was to en- body. History Month. This year’s theme, Her- sure that African Americans would no Some have said that the reason the itage and Horizons, the African Amer- longer be excluded from participating District has never had its full rights is ican Legacy and the Challenges of the in the American fabric because of dis- because of its large African American 21st Century, is most appropriate to crimination. population. I am not so sure of that. these Baltimorians who, by accepting When asked for a definition of Until the 1970s, this city was majority the challenges and overcoming the ob- ‘‘equal,’’ Marshall stated, ‘‘Equal white. The city, the Jim Crow-seg- stacles of their day, have prepared us means getting the same thing at the regated city in which I grew up, the to meet the challenges facing us in this same time in the same place.’’ segregated schools that I went to, was new millennium. Thurgood Marshall’s achievements in a majority white city, and this body I cite Roberta B. Sheridan, the culminated in his appointment as the was willing to deny those whites their daughter of a life-long resident of Bal- Nation’s first African American Su- full rights in the House, the Senate, timore and educated as a teacher. She preme Court justice on August 30, 1967. and their full home rule as much as was dedicated to public education. Because of his achievements, I have they are willing to deny it to blacks. Even though she was denied the oppor- urged adoption of my resolution urging And yet there may well be something tunity to teach in the black public the United States Postal Service to to the notion that the city always had schools, because African Americans at issue a commemorative stamp in his a large black population. If we look at that time were deemed unqualified, she honor because he is immediately de- the history books, that seems to have persisted in her efforts. With the help serving of this recognition. influenced the way the Congress looked of the African American community, a Finally, I cite Parren J. Mitchell, a at the District of Columbia. Well, the campaign was waged to allow African native Baltimorean, who represents Congress needs to take that taint off of Americans to teach in black public several firsts. He was the first African it. It needs to grant my white constitu- schools. This campaign resulted in the American to graduate from the Univer- ents and my black constituents the appointment of Roberta Sheridan in sity of Maryland Graduate School with same rights that their white constitu- 1888 as the first African American a master’s degree in sociology. Coming ents, their Hispanic constituents, and teacher in a Baltimore City public from a family involved in local politics their black constituents have. school. Indeed, in the State of Mary- and community affairs, he embarked Until that happens, until that hap- land. upon an educational, human resources, pens I will not, I will not let an appro- Her goal was to ensure that African and political career. He was Maryland’s priate opportunity go by to remind this Americans received a quality edu- first black Representative to the body that we have not lived up to our cation, and she sought to end the edu- United States House of Representatives stated ideals. One appropriate time to cational inadequacies fostered by white from Baltimore’s 7th Congressional inject that reminder into the record is teachers who dominated the education District and one of my predecessors to during Black History Month, in a of blacks following the Civil War. this body. largely black city where black citizens I also cite Harry S. Cummings, no re- Elected to the 92d Congress beginning and white citizens and citizens of every lation, from Baltimore’s ward 11, one of in 1971, he remained in the House for background wait, no longer patiently, the two first African American males seven succeeding Congresses until 1987. but wait for the same rights that many to graduate from the University of He enjoyed a successful Congressional other Americans have. Maryland School of Law in 1889. Mr. career, serving as chairman of the Madam Speaker, I thank the gentle- Cummings’ career focused on the legal, Committee on Small Business for the woman for yielding to me. educational, and political professions. 97th, 98th, and 99th Congresses. He was Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speak- He was known as the father of the Col- instrumental in the formation of the er, as part of our special hour I would ored Polytechnic Institute because he House Black Caucus, now known as the now like to yield to the gentleman introduced a measure for establishing Congressional Black Caucus, to bring from Maryland (Mr. Cummings). this educational facility and other high to the attention of Congress and the Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I schools for African Americans in this President of the United States legisla- want to thank the gentlewoman for area. tive concerns primarily affecting Afri- yielding to me, and I also want to Politically he was successful in be- can Americans. thank the gentlewoman from Wash- coming the first African American to I am honored to recognize these Afri- ington, D.C. for her words. be elected to the Baltimore City Coun- can Americans from my district of Bal- There is absolutely no question that cil in 1890. In 1904, he had the distinc- timore who were the firsts, who dared she is absolutely right, and we in the tion of seconding the nomination of to meet the challenges of their day, Congressional Black Caucus and many Theodore Roosevelt at the Republican who paved the way and opened doors to others in this great body stand with National Convention in Chicago. He re- ensure equal opportunities for African

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29FE7.031 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 February 29, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H527 Americans and their succeeding gen- recessions, the great Chicago Fire of United States of America and people erations. Indeed, they represent a leg- 1871, and a myriad of other natural dis- throughout the world have benefited acy that gives us hope and confirma- asters and human crises, African Amer- from the shining light that has ema- tion that African Americans continue icans came to Quinn Chapel for protec- nated from these institutions. to succeed and contribute to this won- tion, information, support, and inspira- And so I thank my colleague for the derful American structure. tion. opportunity to share this moment with As we live today, as we look at our Quinn Chapel was the birthplace of her and again commend her for putting pasts, and as we look to our future, we Provident Hospital of Chicago, orga- this special order together. can take pride in the rich heritage that nized by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams in Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speak- these individuals have bequeathed to 1891. Dr. Williams was the first surgeon er, I thank the gentleman from Illinois all of us as Americans. to successfully operate on a human (Mr. DAVIS) and all my other col- Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speak- heart, and Provident was the first leagues for supporting me in this proc- er, it gives me great pleasure at this United States hospital where African ess. time to yield to the gentleman from American nurses could be trained and I am expecting a couple more of my Chicago (Mr. DAVIS). employed. colleagues, so I am going to proceed Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speak- In addition, it was Quinn Chapel who with a few more things that I have in er, I thank the gentlewoman very initiated in 1898 the first known retire- front of me until they get here. much for yielding. ment home for African Americans. It is appropriate today that I recog- Madam Speaker, I want to first of all Most recently, Quinn Chapel was one of nize or memorialize from the 11th Con- thank the gentlewoman from Cali- the locations that hosted a regional gressional District of Ohio a gentleman fornia (Mrs. JONES) for organizing this Congressional Black Caucus hearing on by the name of Gus Joiner. Mr. Join- special order and certainly for giving law enforcement misconduct. er’s funeral is today at the Second Tab- me the opportunity to share in it with Similarly, the First Baptist Con- ernacle Baptist Church in Cleveland, her and the gentlewoman from Wash- gregational Church, formally known as Ohio. Unfortunately, I could not be ington, D.C. (Ms. NORTON) and the gen- the Union Park Congregational there. But it would be appropriate at tleman from Maryland (Mr. CUMMINGS). Church, was founded in 1851 under the this time that I talk a little bit about Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join leadership of Philo Carpenter. Philo Mr. Joiner right here on the floor of my colleagues in paying tribute to the Carpenter and a group of 48 abolitionist the Congress. rich legacy and heritage that our an- members left the parent church, the ‘‘Gus Joiner, a former union orga- cestors have contributed to American Third Presbyterian, over the issue of nizer,’’ and this comes from the obit- life. I want to use the few minutes that slavery. The departing members felt uary section of the Cleveland Plain I have to pay homage to the African that the General Assembly had not Dealer, ‘‘who became chairman of the American church. adopted a strong enough position Legislative Committee of the Federa- There are many outstanding reli- against slavery. Ironically, the church tion of Retired Workers in Cleveland, gious institutions in the district that I also served as a stop along the Under- died Friday at Hospice of the Western live and represent, notwithstanding ground Railroad. Reserve. even the one that I hold membership Carpenter was Chicago’s first drug- The 90-year-old Cleveland resident spent in, the New Galilee Missionary Baptist gist, opening a drugstore in a small log his life fighting unfair labor practices, rac- Church, under the leadership of the home on the bank of the river at the ism and injustice. He also encouraged others Reverend Charlie Murray, where they point that is now Lake Street. In addi- to stand up for their rights. let me serve as a member of the deacon tion to meeting the congregants’ need Mr. Joiner, who worked for the Euclid Road Machinery Co. from the 1940s to the board sometimes when I am there. for spirituality, the church was instru- 1970s, once went to court to force the inde- But I really want to use the few min- mental in forming several institutions pendent union at the company to allow non- utes that I have to pay homage to two of higher learning. Caucasians into its ranks. Later, he was in- other churches, Quinn Chapel African Among the black colleges founded by strumental in bringing his fellow workers Methodist Episcopal Church, under the this church include Dilliard University under the umbrella of the United Auto Work- leadership of Reverend Thomas in Louisiana, Fisk University in Ten- ers as Local 426. Higgonbotham, and the First Baptist nessee, LeMoyne-Owen College in Ten- After retiring in 1976, he joined the Federa- Congregational Church, under the lead- nessee, Talladega College in Alabama, tion of Retired Workers and spoke out on be- ership of Dr. Arthur Griffin, both lo- half of senior citizens throughout Greater Tougaloo College in Mississippi, and Cleveland. He showed up at Cleveland City cated in the 7th Congressional District Huston-Tillotson College in Texas. Council committee meetings to share his of Illinois. Obviously, these colleges represent views on pending legislation and attended These two churches have followed the some of the finest institutions of high- hearings to protest the rising cost of utili- historical tradition of the black church er education. And so this church like ties. as being the most stable, viable, and Quinn Chapel has been instrumental in His most recent crusade was to preserve reliable entity in black life. Through- shaping the minds of some of our great- Madonna Hall, an inner-city nursing home, out slavery, segregation, black codes, est thinkers and leaders. as a charitable asset of the State of Ohio. and injustice, the church has served as I attended a meeting just last week Mr. Joiner, chairman of the nursing home’s board until stepping down from the unpaid the major instrument for hope and for of another church at the Rock of Ages position in 1997, led the trustees’ battle change. It was the black church that Missionary Baptist Church in May- against attempts by the home’s landlords to produced some of our greatest leaders, wood, Illinois, where Reverend Marvin claim ownership and sell the nursing home. educators, theologians, scientists, and Wiley had more than a thousand resi- ‘‘He was the crusader,’’ said Mary Davis, administrators. dents come out to talk about commu- the lawyer who represented him in a lawsuit Quinn Chapel was formed in 1847 nity development. filed in conjunction with the case. ‘‘He had a under the leadership of the Reverend I also take this opportunity to high- sense of what was right and what was fair. George Johnson. The church was light the work of Reverend Bill Win- It’s not that often you see somebody willing to risk themselves for what’s right or put named in honor of the renowned Bishop ston at the Living Word Christian Cen- themselves on the line for what they believe William Paul Quinn. Bishop Quinn was ter in Forest Park, Illinois. in. He was a person of such extraordinary one of the most prolific circuit-riding Madam Speaker, these churches have faith that everything is going to work out preachers in the 1800s who personally all helped to set the standards by OK. When you look at the difficulty of his organized 97 AME churches, prayer which other institutions have learned life, he turned to joy, thanksgiving and cele- bands, and temperance societies. to live. Even today, they continue to bration rather than bitterness.’’ It is interesting to note that Quinn inspire through the three cornerstones Mr. Joiner, an Alabama native, was a teen- Chapel’s first community project fo- of life: faith, hope, and love. Because of ager when he started working at a coal com- pany’s coke yard in Virginia. He moved on to cused on the abolition of slavery; and, the contributions of Quinn Chapel AME Chicago to work in the stockyards, but was ironically, Quinn Chapel became a stop and First Baptist Congregational, Chi- laid off during the Depression. For a while, on the Underground Railroad. For over cago is indeed a better place in which he hopped freight trains and rode the rails in 150 years during race riots, depressions, to live. But more importantly, the search of work.

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29FE7.034 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 H528 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 29, 2000 In the 1930s, he joined relatives in West man’s job in building this great Nation chief of staff, Marcia Fudge, the na- Virginia, where he worked in the coal mines in which we all enjoy freedom. Very tional president of Delta Sigma Theta and organized labor unions under volatile briefly, let me pay a special tribute to Sorority Inc., who is now the mayor of circumstances. As a local officer and orga- a young man, a young man who at the Warrensville Heights, Ohio. It is as a nizer with the United Mine Workers out of result of her love of poetry that I even Fairmount, W. Va., he once chaired the age of 108 years old just last year made speakers’ platform with legendary UMW his transition, Dr. John Morton- learned about this particular poem. I President John L. Lewis at a state conven- Finney. think Gloria Wade-Gayles does a fabu- tion. Mr. Joiner also worked undercover to At the time of his transition he was lous job of writing. It is entitled And help organize unions in the western Pennsyl- believed to be the oldest practicing at- the Women Gathered. vania communities of Johnstown and torney in the whole United States. But AND THE WOMEN GATHERED Uniontown. even more importantly, John Morton- (By Gloria Wade-Gayles) During World War II, he worked in the Finney was the first teacher to join the And the women gathered. Navy yard in Norfolk, Va. By the mid-1940s, staff of Crispus Attucks High School And the women gathered. he was in Cleveland and working at Euclid when it was opened in 1927, an African And the women gathered. Road Machinery. Thin women Mr. Joiner considered voting not only a American school in my district for which I am a proud graduate that was Stout women right, but a responsibility. He voted in every Short women primary and general election for 66 years, in- built on the bedlam of racism but in- Tall women cluding the general election of November deed produced some of the most out- Young women 1999. standing scholars and noted sportsmen Not so young women He had been church treasurer, Audit Com- that this country has ever known. Flat chested women mittee chairman and trustees secretary at John Morton-Finney finally had the Big bosomed women the Second Tabernacle Baptist Church in education center in Indianapolis named Women with blue eyes Cleveland, where he was a member for more Green eyes than 50 years. In 1972, he was named the for him after a year of my insistence that began because John Morton- Brown eyes parish’s Man of the Year. He also was a Women with silky hair trustee of the United Black Fund. Finney’s work, his life, his legacy is a Curly hair When his children were younger, Mr. Join- hallmark in terms of the contributions Bleached hair er participated in PTA activities at John of African Americans in my particular Permed hair Hay High School, where he complained about district; and it stands there as a beacon Graying hair the better resources given to the white West of hope, a beacon of testimony, a bea- And the women gathered. Side schools. Coming by planes ‘‘He was an advocate for us if we had any con of illustration of what people can be if they decide that that is what they Buses trouble or problem at school,’’ said his Vans daughter, Margaret of Cleveland. ‘‘That want to be. Cars same zeal he used to make sure the little John Morton-Finney had over 30 Trains person wasn’t trampled, he used to defend earned degrees. He headed up the lan- And strong feet never tired his children.’’ guage department. He was a quasi-sci- To gather for freedom Mr. Joiner and his wife, Mildred, who died entist, quasi-inventor and just a noble, Married women 15 years ago, raised seven daughters and a noble individual. I am so happy that Divorced women son. our school board in Indianapolis finally Single women In addition to Margaret, Mr. Joiner is sur- Widowed women vived by daughters, Mary Heard, Betty Pitt- got around to paying due where due was certainly earned because in the The Women Gathered man, Barbara, Victoria and Kathryn, all of Cocoa Cleveland, and Carolyn Williams of Albany, course of an ordinary life, many of us Cream N.Y.; son, Franklin of Cleveland; 12 grand- would leave some things undone, but in Nut brown children; 14 great-grandchildren; and a sis- the life of John Morton-Finney it is a Beige ter. challenge to figure out what in the Caramel I stand here with pride, even on the world it was that he did not do or what Fudge day of the memorial services of Mr. it was that he left unaccomplished and Blackberry black Joiner, to talk about this wonderful 90- that is merely one of the qualities of As different as the stars that grace the night year-old man that I knew all the time his life so worth celebrating, especially The women gathered As one constellation. that I grew up in the city of Cleveland, in this month of African American his- And the world took notice as well as part of my public life. I am tory celebration for their contribu- That women are warriors glad that I had the opportunity to get tions. I want to thank my colleagues (Always have been even in the beginning) to know him as well as to memorialize that preceded me and thank the gentle- And so they gathered as women will him in the RECORD of the United States woman from Ohio specifically for In the very eye of the storm Congress. bringing this to the floor of the United Pushing against its fury States Congress, to the ears and eyes of With their own b 1515 America and certainly for allowing lit- And the world took notice That women birth babies Madam Speaker, it gives me great tle old me from Indianapolis, Indiana pleasure to yield to the gentlewoman And revolutions to have just an infinitesimally small The women gathered from Indiana (Ms. CARSON). part of this very vital process. Ten thousand Rosas inspired by one Ms. CARSON. I thank the gentle- Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I would like to You saw them. woman from Ohio (Mrs. JONES) a mem- thank my colleague for being so mod- You saw them. ber of this august body for whom I est but as she sits here she is the one You saw them. have the greatest admiration and the who had the idea of awarding Rosa You saw them. respect for in terms of her commitment Parks the Gold Medal. The world saw them. to justice and equality for all people. I Madam Speaker, I await the chair- Montage from the movement: Headlines am very happy that my distinguished Montgomery, Alabama man of the CBC, and so I have a poem December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, a seamstress colleague has allowed me to be just a that I am going to attempt to do very in Montgomery, Alabama refused to very brief part of this black history quickly in his absence. The author is surrender her seat to a white man when celebration in the month of February Gloria Wade-Gayles. The poem is enti- ordered by a local bus driver. The that was inspired by Carter G. Woodson tled And The Women Gathered. I think Montgomery bus boycott begins. many years ago, first as the Negro His- it is appropriate that I do this poem Blacks walk, walk, and walk for free- tory Week, if you will, and later ex- right now because it talks about black dom and dignity. tended to a whole month. history and then we are on the brink of Women were there. It is ironic, I believe, that it is in the Greensboro, North Carolina the month of March, which happens to February 1, 1960. Students sit in at lunch shortest month of the year, that is, the be Women’s History Month as well. counters and are refused service. Re- month of February, given that we have I want to give my best at doing this turn. Are arrested. so many virtues to extol of so many Af- piece of poetry. I would also like to A wave of sit-ins spreads to 15 cities in five rican Americans who have done a yeo- give appropriate credit to my former southern States.

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29FE7.036 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 February 29, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H529 Women were there frequently comprised of people of color, suffer country what she was, what she is, and what May 4, 1961. The freedom rides begin. Blacks larger and disproportionate environmental she will be. and whites ride together on a chartered risks compared to other Americans. The envi- Our topic is, ``Heritage and Horizons: The bus. Savage beatings, arson, legal har- African American Legacy and the Challenges assment. ronmental justice movement also concerns in- Women were there. equality, including wealth and income dispari- of the 21st Century.'' Birmingham, April 3, 1963. ties, inadequate schools, gaps in medical This is a big subject! Bull Connor turns on water hoses and services, uneven economic opportunities and The legacy is certainly bigÐas so is the unleashes ferocious dogs. Physical vio- investment inequities. challenge! lence. Mass arrests. In recent years, America has significantly Historian Benjamin Quarles has pointed out Bombings. improved its air and water quality and reduced in his ground-breaking work on black history Women were there. waste disposal and toxic chemicals. However, that, except for native American Indians, Birmingham, September 15, 1963. the improvements have been uneven and the blacks are the country's oldest ethnic minority. Four young black girls are killed in church In fact, the roots of black Americans sink benefits skewed. These factors cause trou- bombing. Mississippi, summer of 1964 deeper in the histories of the 13 original colo- bling health problems and threaten all our Civil rights activists, blacks and whites in- nies than any other group from across the At- vade the State, registering voters es- other progress. The fight for a healthy environ- lantic. tablishing freedom Schools. ment has been led by many local grassroots The South. America was born in diversity, and many leaders. In San Francisco, Linda Richardson groups have played a part in the country's During the course of one year, 80 people were has helped lead the fight to address these physically assaulted, 30 buildings phenomenal growth and development. And the bombed, 1,000 arrested and five mur- problems and achieve environmental justice. part played by Americans of African descent dered. Mrs. Richardson founded Southeast Alliance has been huge. We are just now beginning to Women were there. for Environmental Justice, a San Francisco understand the impact that black America has Throughout the movement, based environmental organization. She also is had on every period in the country's history. Women sang the songs passionately. a member of the San Francisco Planning It's an historic fact that America could not ‘‘We shall not. We shall not be moved. Commission and an expert on the impact of have emerged as a great world industrial ‘‘Woke up this morning with my mind stayed environmental pollutants on poor communities. power as quickly or as forcefully as she did on freedom. Her work has demonstrated the importance ‘‘Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me round, turn without the presence of a skilled black labor me round. of implementing safe, healthy, and equitable force, or without the contributions made by ‘‘And before I’ll be a slave, I’ll be buried in environmental policies to bring about environ- black Americans in every field, including the my grave, and go home to the Lord and mental justice. Thanks to this grassroots work, sciences, technology, exploration, business, be free.’’ Americans now realize that it is no longer tol- religion, government and politics, the military, And the women gathered. erable for pollution and environmental toxins the arts, and in all aspects of our society. In need of empowerment for themselves but to prey heavily on our Nation's vulnerable pop- As I took the floor this evening, I found my- they gathered to change the South. ulation, including impoverished Americans; mi- self thinking of Henry Flipper. They gathered because women do not sleep norities; and our children. Some of you will recognize the name Henry through nightmares. FlipperÐwho was born in Thomasville, Geor- We shall not call the roll. Despite this realization, too many still take It is as long as the Nile our Nation's environmental health for granted. gia, which is located in an area of southwest Where civilization was born. For example, each year, more than 2.2 billion Georgia that I have the privilege of rep- We shall not call the roll. pounds of pesticides are used on crops, resentingÐis remembered as the first black The women wore their courage lawns, and public spaces. Consumers Union graduate of West Point, who went on to serve And not their names. reports that many children are eating fruits with distinction as a young military officer on It is that way with women. and vegetables with unsafe levels of pesticide the western frontier, and who was wrongly And so we say. residues. This residue is dangerous and forced out of the service on the basis of false Women warriors plagues our children at every meal. Our chil- charges, even though he had been fully exon- Trailblazers erated from those charges. Torchbearers dren are our most important resource. Mrs. Richardson is committed to ensuring When he died in Atlanta in 1940, he was a Activists forgotten man, and was buried in an un- Thinkers that our civil rights include the right to live in Movers and shakers a clean and healthy environment. I commend marked grave. But, in recent years, historians Dreamers her work and believe that a nation that pre- have dug more deeply into his life. And what Revolutionaries serves its environmental health establishes the they have found is truly remarkable. In spite of his bitter setback in the Army, We salute you. foundation for a healthy, stable, and pros- historians have learned that he made enor- And we promise perous society. To complement the work of That we will not mous contributions to America's growth in the grassroots leaders, my colleagues joined me Sleep through the nightmares late 1800's and early 1900's. He helped de- to request an increased budget for the Envi- Of homelessness, unemployment, velop the railroad in the West. He had a pio- Poverty, violence against children, women, ronmental Protection Agency to employ neering role in developing the oil industry. As men, Ignorance trained staff with a civil rights background. Our an engineer, inventor, surveyor, and, later in Oppression of all kinds. vision cannot be achieved without the com- his career, as a top advisor to the U.S. Sec- We promise that bined force of private and public sector work retary of the Interior, he played a big part in A new generation toward the same goals. Of women the country's Westward expansion. To commemorate Black History Month, we Although born in servitude, he helped Will gather. should join together to organize, educate, and We are that generation. change the face of America. Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, as we cele- fight for better environmental, health, edu- There are countless examples of African- brate Black History Month, there is much to cation, and economic outcomes for all Ameri- Americans who have made a real impact on celebrate. The economic climate is improving cans. While we work to adequately fund en- the country's history. Henry Flipper is just one significantly. African American businesses are forcement activities and implement safe envi- of many great black leaders produced by my borrowing, investing, and building capital at ronmental policies, we must also demand own state of Georgia. Dr. Martin Luther King, record levels. For African Americans, median funding initiatives in infant mortality, heart dis- Jr. is another. As the leading figure in the Civil household income is up, the poverty rate is ease, AIDS, immunizations, cancer screening Rights Movement, he played a big role in the sharply down, and the unemployment rate is and management to eliminate racial health transformation that took place in our country in down to the lowest level on record (8.1 per- disparities. Let's follow Linda's success and the middle of the 20th Century. cent). work to implement a more progressive vision Their stories all tell us that our country's However, despite our economic progress that eliminates environmental injustice. unique diversity has been a great source of and electoral gains, we still have not achieved Mr. BISHOP. Madam Speaker, first, I appre- strength, and should be celebrated. In fact, all we can. In addition to the disparity of in- ciate the opportunity to join my colleagues in America's heroes are not limited to any race, come in our country, one important area we recognizing Black History Month, and I thank or creed, or gender or national background. must address is environmental justiceÐa sig- Congresswoman, JONES for arranging this We find examples of greatness among all peo- nificant human rights issue for this century. year's Special Order to remember the far- ple in this patchwork of cultures that has be- The issue of environmental justice stems from reaching role that black Americans have come the strongest, freest, and most produc- the concern that impoverished communities, played through the centuries in making our tive nation the world has ever known.

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K29FE7.038 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 H530 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 29, 2000 By observing Black History Month, we learn North Dallas has produced extraordinary Af- There were Americans then, and there are more about our history; we celebrate our di- rican-Americans. Dallas native Ernie Banks Americans now, who have never understood versity; and we become inspired and moti- set records in baseball and was voted the that Dr. King was speaking to them when he ``Greatest Chicago Cubs Player of All Time''. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. vated by Americans who have helped lead the But surely everyone can be thankful for this: way toward fulfilling the country's great prom- Austin native Bill Picket was the first black that when African-Americans demanded ise of equality of opportunity and justice for all. working cowboy, and revolutionized the genre their rights, they did not rally behind a lead- Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. with his unique style of bulldogging. From my er filled with bitterness and belligerence; Madam Speaker, I rise to represent to citizens birthplace, Waco, TX native Monroe Majors they turned to this man who told his fol- of the Thirtieth Congressional District to pay became the first black to practice medicine lowers, ‘‘The means we use must be as pure honor and tribute to scores of African-Ameri- west of the Rocky Mountains, and Jules as the ends we seek.’’ cans who have paved the way for the realiza- Bledsoe changed the face of opera through Langston Hughes wrote, ‘‘We too sing America,’’ but it was Martin King, Jr. who tion of the American dream. his groundbreaking production, ``Showboat.'' Madam Speaker, I have just scratched the showed how. He brought audiences to their African-American history is American his- feet merely by reciting ‘‘My Country ‘Tis of tory. Even before there was a United States, surface of North Texas African-American con- Thee.’’ In a voice that sounded like the Crispus Attucks became the first American tributions to the American fabric. From Al trumpet of Gideon, he called on America to martyr when he was killed during the Boston Lipscomb, who led the fight to make Dallas let freedom ring, and all who heard it never Massacre of 1770, fighting against taxation elected officials more representative of the forgot it. without representation. Over 5,000 black sol- populace, to Royce West and John Wiley At his funeral, they called him ‘‘a warrier diers and sailors fought in the American Revo- Price, who led the fight for justice in Dallas for peace.’’ A leader willing to die for his cause but not willing to kill. A protester who lution, only to be told that they were only today. As I look to the dawn of a new century, I am proud to be a part of America's es- was also a peacemaker. A black man, of an three-fifths human when the Constitution was oppressed people, who reached out to every- ratified. teemed legacy of African-American achieve- one, even his enemies, because his objective Africans transplanted to America endured ment. was not to win but to reconcile. He was a centuries of oppression, beginning before they Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise Nobel Prize winner who could have become a even set foot on the American shore. The mid- today on the last day of Black History Month messianic figure, and preached in pulpits all dle passage was a terrible, often fatal voyage to share with you a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther over the country, but he chose to go to his of slaves from Africa to the New World. Afri- King, Jr. The remarks to follow were given by death marching with the garbagemen of my good friend and esteemed colleague, Rep- Memphis. cans were herded like livestock into the lower His greatest achievement was, in his decks of a ship, where they were shackled to- resentative JOHN SPRATT from the Fifth Con- gressional District of South Carolina. Rep- words, ‘‘a method of struggle that made it gether in inhumane conditions, fed only sub- possible to stand up against an unjust sys- stance portions, and thrown overboard in resentative SPRATT's remarks on the late Dr. tem and fight it with all your might, yet shark infested waters if they got sick, weak, or King bring a very refreshing and much-needed never stoop to violence and hatred in the the weight of the ship was simply too heavy. view on the subject of America and where we process.’’ He gave Gandhi credit for helping Once here, they were subjected to every op- ought to be heading as we enter the new Mil- him understand the philosophy of nonviolent pressive tactic known to man, from the spirit lennium. Our home State of South Carolina is protest. But he believed that this spirit was involved in a national debate, as I've spoken rooted in the black church, in three cen- breaking submission demanded on the planta- turies of Christian stoicism when African- tion, to the family breaking practice of slave about recently, regarding the confederate bat- tle flag flying atop the Statehouse in Columbia. Americans were gripped in bondage. breeding and trading, to the mind numbing In the dark days of the Montgomery Bus laws forbidding slave education. Were we all to read Representative SPRATT's Boycott, Martin Luther King, Jr. told his Yet, even in the days when it seemed that remarks and take them into close consider- congregation at Dexter Avenue Baptist ``hope unborn had died'', Africans in America ation, we might be one step closer to under- Church, ‘‘You who protest courageously, yet reached amazing heights of achievement in all standing the past and moving towards the fu- with dignity and Christian love, when the areas of endeavor, from science and medicine ture that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. envisioned history books are written in the future, the historian will have to say, ‘There was a great to politics and education, from Benjamin for our nation. Madam Speaker, I submit for the RECORD people, a black people, who injected new Banneker and Daniel Hale Williams to Shirley the following remarks given by Representative meaning and dignity into the veins of civili- Chisholm and Martha Collins. Over stony zation.’ ’’ JOHN SPRATT on January 17, 2000, at the Mt. roads, African-Americans have trod over the This national holiday is not created out of Prospect Baptist Church in Rock Hill, South obstacles to success, each time redefining the magnanimity. It is created out of respect for Carolina. American Dream as they fought on to victory. a people who have earned it, to honor a man I would like to take this special opportunity TRIBUTE TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.— who belongs with the greatest American REMARKS OF U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JOHN to highlight the enormous contribution to Afri- leaders. SPRATT, MT. PROSPECT BAPTIST CHURCH, We honor only two other Americans with can-American history, and thus, American his- ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA, JANUARY 17, national holidays bearing their names: tory, by African-Americans from Texas, and, in 2000 George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. I many cases, from my district. Maynard Jack- Martin Luther King, Jr. was born January am proud to say I voted for law designating son, who went on to become the first and one 15, 1929. He was 26, in the pulpit of Dexter this day, but I will be first to admit that all of the most successful mayors of Atlanta, was Avenue Baptist Church less than two years, it does is make the third Monday in January born in Dallas in 1938. As mayor of Atlanta, when he was drafted to lead the Montgomery a legal holiday. This can become just an- he laid the foundation for the new South's bus boycott. He was 39 the night he told the other ‘‘day off’’ unless we make it ‘‘a day sanitation workers in Memphis that God had on,’’ a time to reach into our souls and ask centerpiece city by ensuring that all races taken him up on the top of the mountain and what we can do to make the dream a reality. were allowed to take part in Atlanta's eco- let him see the promised land. ‘‘Mine eyes Lyndon Johnson explained why this day nomic opportunity. have see the glory of the coming of the matters long before it was ever designated, ``Blind'' Lemon Jefferson used Dallas as a Lord,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m not fearing any man.’’ thirty-five years ago. The week after Bloody base to launch an extraordinary blues career, He would have been 71 on Saturday, had he Sunday in Selma, Alabama, LBJ addressed during which he made over 100 recordings of lived. But the next day in Memphis, he the nation on television. John Lewis had his intricate melodic rhythms and influenced stepped out onto the deck of the Lorraine been beaten into the ground after crossing countless artists, including B.B. King. Before Motel, and a gunman, filled with the venom the Edmund Pettus Bridge, but he was he had tried all his life to pacify, fired a rifle watching, and as LBJ spoke, his spirit Rafer Johnson went on to be a gold medalist bullet through his jaw, and killed him in- soared. This, he says, was the ‘‘strongest and a world decathlon record holder, he also stantly. civil rights speech any president ever made.’’ lived in Dallas. American history is pock-mocked with vio- LBJ began by saying, ‘‘At times history Dallas native Bobby Seale went on to lead lence, but it is also marked by turning and fate meet at a single place to shape a tens of thousands of African-Americans toward points where God gave us great leaders who turning point in man’s unending search for heightened political consciousness. Dallas steered us in the right direction. George freedom. So it was at Lexington and Con- served as a launching pad for James Farmer, Washington was one. Abraham Lincoln, an- cord. So it was a century ago at Appomattox. other. Franklin Roosevelt lifted us out of the So it was last week at Selma, Alabama.’’ the noted Congress of Racial Equality leader Depression, assuring us we had ‘‘nothing to ‘‘Rarely,’’ he said, ‘‘in any time does an and winner of the Presidential Medal of Free- fear but fear itself.’’ Martin Luther King, Jr. issue lay bare the heart of America itself dom. And as the first black mayor of Dallas, called us to ‘‘rise up and live out the true . . . But the issue of equal rights for Amer- Mayor Ron Kirk continues to lead the city into meaning of our creed, that all men are cre- ican Negroes is such an issue. Should we de- unprecedented economic success. ated equal.’’ feat every enemy, should we double our

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A29FE7.020 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 February 29, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H531 wealth and conquer the stars, and still be un- diminish Dr. King, but so that ‘‘young people jail that ‘‘human progress never rolls in on equal to this issue, we will have failed as a will not think that this was his movement, wheels of inevitability. It comes from the people and as a nation.’’ and say ‘I wish we had a Martin Luther King tireless, persistent efforts of men willing to After thirty-five years, LBJ’s words still today to lead us . . . If people know how the be co-workers with God. ring true. The stakes are the same, and fail- movement started and why it succeeded,’’ Now that we have reached certain goals, I ure is not an option. That’s why this holiday says Diane Nash, ‘‘they will be more likely think we need a higher goal. Americans have and what it’s about are vitally important, to ask the right question, which is: ‘What always believed that we have, in the words of not just to African-Americans but to all can I do?’ ’’ Franklin D. Roosevelt, a rendezvous with Americans. Every community needs stories of sublime destiny. At a time when most people in the Last spring, I went with my colleague and courage, discipline, and principle like these. world lived barely above the level of ani- friend, John Lewis, on a pilgrimage to These are our epic poems, and we should be mals, Americans showed that government of Selma, and to Birmingham and Montgomery. telling them and teaching them because they the people is the only government for the We prayed in the church in Birmingham, build respect; they show us we are stronger people. We showed that when church and where the lives of four girls were cruelly cut than we think; they inspire our better selves. state are separated, both fare better. We short by dynamite, exploded in the midst of Those who want to keep the Confederate showed that when people from countries like a Sunday morning worship. We sat in the flag flying over our Capitol claim it as their Ireland are liberated from strife and preju- pews at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, and heritage. But Confederate veterans served in dice, they thrive in a tolerant land. We listened to Dr. King tell his congregation the General Assembly from 1866 to the early showed that free education, made available during the bus boycott: ‘‘The tension in this 1920s, and never resolved to raise their old to all, is like a rising tide; it lifts all the city is not between white people and black battle flag over the dome of the Capitol. If boats in a society. We showed that people people. The tension is, at bottom, between we want to preserve our heritage, what about can come from the simplest backgrounds, justice and injustice, between the forces of the motherlode of heritage in the civil rights like Martin Luther King, Jr., the grandson of light and the forces of darkness.’’ and on the movement? In a country where there is too slaves and sharecroppers, and give birth to anniversary of Bloody Sunday, we marched, much violence in the home, in the schools, great things. arm-in-arm, across the Edmund Pettus on the streets, here is a rich history of non- Now that the barriers that segregated us Bridge. violence worth our study. have been removed, our challenge, and I On the way back, a reporter asked why I Every school child in South Carolina think God’s purpose for us, is to show the had made the trip, and I told him I thought should know stories like these. They should world—from Belfast to Bosnia, from Cape everyone should come to Birmingham and know the story of those black children in Town to East Timor, that different races and Selma. Everyone should know the Edmund Clarendon County who walked miles to ethnic groups need not cripple and debilitate Pettus Bridge as well as Concord Bridge in school every day, as busses full of white chil- a country; they can make a country richer Massachusetts; and everyone should know dren passed them by. They should not study and stronger; that we can not only co-exist, what happened in Kelly-Ingram Park as well South Carolina history without learning the but thrive on our differences. as what happened on Lexington Green. name of Levi Briggs and those brave parents This is our heritage, and it should be our If you fast forward thirty-five years from who put their lives on the line to correct this mission, our creed, our high calling. If as a LBJ’s speech, you have to say we have come inequity, and went on to the Supreme Court people we can embrace this goal, we can a long way. Dr. King’s mission is far from with Briggs v. Elliott. They should know the make our country that shining city on a hill finished; but that doesn’t make the accom- twisted road to school integration and the that the Puritans set out to build three hun- plishments of the civil rights movement any quiet heroes, like Matthew Perry and Judge dred years ago. We can make our country the less momentous. We should not let ourselves Waring, who helped clear the way. country Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of, or our children diminish what was achieved We should teach character, teach it by tell- ‘‘where justice rolls down like waters and in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, or say that race re- ing the stories of Rosa Parks and Levi righteousness like a mighty stream.’’ lations are no better now than then. We grew Briggs, John Lewis, and the Friendship Nine. Our goal does not have to be a completely up in the segregated South. We know better. And while we are at it, we should preach per- color-blind, totally homogenized society. And besides, we have to remember how far sistence, to our children and ourselves. For That’s too utopian, and frankly, I think, too we’ve come because it inspires us to keep one of our country’s virtues has been our ca- bland. I think our richness as a people de- going. We should remember Philip Randolph, pacity to struggle endlessly with our prob- rives from our differences. I think it is telling the Judiciary Committee that ‘‘when lems, and never be completely satisfied with enough to strive for a plural, multi-racial so- Negro Americans travel the highways of this our solutions. We have to keep seeking solu- ciety, where the visible differences of race, country, we are stalked by humiliation.’’ tions; and even if we never see closure, never color, and culture no longer carry the stigma And remember how Rosa Parks, a seamstress give up in the search for a society that of somehow not being a full-fledged Amer- in Montgomery, helped put an end to that in- matches our ideals and principles. In the ican. dignity. When we think there is little we as realm of racial justice and equality, progress If we make this our goal, we can put the ordinary citizens can do, heroines like Rosa has been slow, and it has been uneven, but flag flying over our State Capitol in perspec- Parks remind us we are wrong. we have not just been spinning our wheels in tive. It’s a wedge issue, and we need to be rid They remind us also that Martin Luther a rut of racism. We have made progress. of it, so that we can get on with far more im- King, Jr. would have accomplished little or Look, for instance, at the difference the portant tasks, because time is running short. nothing, but for those who stood behind him Voting Rights Act has made. Take the Con- Halfway through this new century, our popu- and those who charged ahead, as shock gress. In 1965, John Lewis was spearheading lation is expected to hit 400 million. Fifty- troops of the movement. They were ordinary SNCC, in the streets protesting. Today he is three percent will be white. Twenty-five per- Americans like Dub Massey and Jim Wells in the Congress, Chief Deputy Whip on the cent will be Hispanic, 14 percent will be and the Friendship Nine. But it was, in Dr. Democratic side. He serves there alongside 38 black, 9 percent Asian, and one percent King’s words, ‘‘their sublime courage, their other African-Americans, Jim Clyburn American Indian. Our existence as a people willingness to suffer, their amazing dis- among them, the first black elected to Con- is moving toward a level of complexity the cipline in the midst of almost inhuman prov- gress from South Carolina since 1896. Charlie world has never seen before. In the 21st Cen- ocation’’ that gave us the Civil Rights Act of Rangel of New York is another; if Democrats tury, the United States will be the world’s 1964. gain control of the House in the next elec- nation; the American canvass will be painted Among the early protesters was a young tion, Charlie will take the chair of the House with colors from every shade of the earth. woman named Diane Nash, an organizer of Ways and Means Committee, the most pow- Surely, we do not want this racially more SNCC. At the time of the Rock Hill sit-ins, erful committee in Congress. diverse America to be a racially more di- SNCC was in dire financial straits, and meet- America is better for all Americans, but it vided America. ing to discuss how they could keep going. is still not what it ought to be; and old sym- Surely, we want the world to look to One of the Friendship protesters, Tom bols, like the flag flying over our Capitol, are America in this century, as it did in the last, Gaither, used the single phone call allowed too much to be dismissed as mere ‘‘vestiges and see that future works, see many races him at the jail to call SNCC collect in At- of the past.’’ We stand on the doorstep of not only surviving but thriving, richer as a lanta. Gaither called to tell SNCC that the America’s fourth century, three hundred culture and as a country because of our dif- Friendship students didn’t want bail and years from the day the first African slave set ferences. wouldn’t be asking SNCC for bond money. foot on this soil, and we cannot say this is Two years ago, I went to Bosnia to visit They were going to serve out their thirty the country we want it to be. our troops in a forlorn place, ripped asunder days in jail. This became a precedent for the Dr. King liked to say that he wanted more by ethnic warfare. When I landed at Tuzla, I whole movement, and so inspired SNCC that than ‘‘just physical proximity with no spir- was met by Major General Morgan, an Afri- four of those at the meeting in Atlanta drove itual affinity.’’ He wanted a country where can-American, who commanded our troops to Rock Hill, sat-in at McCrory’s, and joined ‘‘not only elbows but hearts rub together.’’ there. When I went to Sarajevo, I was met by the Friendship Nine in the county jail. We cannot say that we are such a society, General Shinseki, a Japanese-American, who Diane Nash was among them, and today, nor can we say that we will become one by commanded the entire NATO mission. I she issues us a caveat. She says that ‘‘the laissez-faire policies, benign neglect, or mere doubt that any racial message was intended movement made Martin rather than Martin evolution. Martin Luther King, Jr. warned us by the assignment of these two officers. But making the movement.’’ She says this not to years ago from his cell in the Birmingham I have to tell you, I was proud to see my

VerDate 16-FEB-2000 05:41 Mar 01, 2000 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A29FE7.022 pfrm12 PsN: H29PT1 H532 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 29, 2000 country making that statement in that eth- can-American experience, and its relationship Clayton Powell, Jr., and Malcolm X made sig- nic-torn part of the world. And I believe that to American history. nificant marks on American historyÐin our America can cast that beacon, that sign of Seventy-four years ago, a bold and daring courts, our schools, our government, our poli- hope, that message of racial harmony, all scholar had a vision to honor the Legacy of tics, and in foreign affairs. African-American over the world. How do we plot the route to an interracial African-Americans. As you know, this leg- women like Fannie Lou Hamer, Shirley Chis- society over the next fifty years? Well, there endary scholar, Carter G. Woodson founded holm, and Barbara Jordan, one of my personal are lots of ways. But on the map of racial what was then called ``Black History Week.'' heroes, broke old barriers and won the re- progress, education is the name of almost Now, our nation celebrates the entire month of spect of millions of Americans for integrity, every road. Almost all studies come to one February as Black History Month. And if I their intelligence, their dedication, and their conclusion: education is our best solution might quote my 14-year-old son Jason Lee, professional accomplishments. and our greatest challenge. ``we should not be regulated even by a month, This recitation of African-American leaders For one thing, the public schools right now for African American history is a history of a is by no means all-inclusive! In fact, it touches have a racial or ethnic composition com- upon only a few of the vast amount of African- parable to what the whole nation will look people and the history of America.'' like in 2020. The school age population is 66 So I would hope that as we take to the floor American leaders who have shaped this coun- percent white, 15 percent black, 14 percent of the House on the last day of this month, my try's history and added to the legacy of Afri- Hispanic, and 4 percent Asian. The future of colleagues will join me in additional days in can-American accomplishments in America. I diversity in this country will depend heavily which we will spend talking about African mention these names to merely observe the on how well the schools work out the issues American history, and I would hope that we fact that African-Americans have always of full and equal inclusion. would begin to explain to the American people played an integral part in the history of the In saying this, I am not shifting the burden how intimately woven this history is with Amer- United States. onto teachers and school administrators. I ica. As we recall African-American history, we As part of this annual observation of Black am speaking to all of us as parents, to History Month, it is vital to remind America churches, to people, to the whole commu- should not be afraid to say that it is American nity. All of us have to pitch in and make our history, and we should not be afraid to recount that in the face of racism, discrimination, and public schools second to none, up to the chal- it over and over again, not out of hatred or violence, many African-Americans have lenge of educating every child to the limit of hatefulness, but out of the need to educate changed the very fabric of this nation. I would his potential. and to allow this country to move forward and like to stress that all of America can draw Which brings me to my last point. Ameri- to build upon the richness of its diversity and great satisfaction and strength from this his- cans need to realize that though we came tory. It is important, because as we embrace over here on different ships, we are all in the to solve some of the very problems that we confront today. this history, it provides not only inspiration for same boat now. The burden of change should African-Americans, but also all of America on not rest on African-Americans alone. The African-American history is rightfully re- counting the contributions of great Americans. the dawn of the 21st Century. burden should rest on all of us if we believe Madam Speaker, I believe that we must our creed. Americans who dared to change not only their In that connection, let me commend the individual community, but also their sur- speak about African-American history through- City of Rock Hill, the Council, and Mayor rounding nation. As I recall the legacy of Afri- out the year, because there are still many bar- Doug Echos, in particular, for sponsoring can-Americans, I remember the brave and riers that America has yet to hurdle and face ‘‘No Room for Racism,’’ and for your resolu- bold leaders of our past. There is no shortage at the dawn of the 21st century. America has tion on the Flag. not accepted in a collective and collaborative of articulate, influential African-American lead- No Room for Racism may be mostly dia- fashion that African American history is a his- ers in our nation's history. These individuals logue, but I believe it is dialogue that we tory of America. Issues that impact our com- influenced both the African-American commu- need I believe that efforts like this can blos- munities such as increased funding for nutri- som, so that one day, ours is country where nity and our society at large in powerful ways tion programs, affirmative action, the Voter's all sing America. And I believe it is God’s as they fought to win freedom, fair treatment, Rights Act, reparations for African-Americans, purpose, Dr. King’s drean, and our duty to and better lives for all of America. For exam- racial profiling, equitable funding for Histori- make it just that. ple, brave men like Nat Turner, Gabriel cally Black College and Universities, equitable Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Prosser, and Denmark Vesey, who organized training and funds to children for access to the Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Black and led doomed but valiant slave rebellions History Month. I thank my colleagues of the Internet, and a multitude of other critical against brutal slave owners. Abolitionists like issues are concerns that Americans must join Congressional Black Caucus very much for Frederick Douglas and Sojourner Truth, who their leadership on this very special order and together and combat. If America embraces Af- undermined the institution of slavery by speak- rican American History as American History, tribute to black history and appreciate tremen- ing, writing, and lobbying against itÐat consid- dously these members who have joined me on we would go so much further in solving these erable personal risk. And brave individuals like problems and many other critical problems. the floor of the House to acknowledge this Harriet Tubman, who risked her life and her In closing, I strongly feel that all Americans very special month. hard-won freedom to return to slave-holding must have a better understanding of each I am thrilled to stand here on the House states to lead other African-Americans north to other. Our rich diversity has been (at the same floor as an American and as an African-Amer- freedom along the Underground Railroad. And time) the reason for our continued struggles ican Member of Congress. In the 211 years of the Civil War, where over 200,000 African- and progress. We must learn each other's his- congressional history there have been only American men fought in the Union Army and tory! African-American history must be the 105 African-American Members of Congress. NavyÐto free their enslaved brethren, and kind of history that is living; that is accepted; 101 African-Americans have been elected to prove that African-Americans too were com- that is widespread; and that all people can un- the House of Representatives, and only 4 mitted to Democracy and the preservation of derstand. This great nation must embrace this have been elected to the Senate. I am boldly America. rich history of the past and the present, and able to stand here today, Madam Speaker, be- And in the early 1900s, African-Americans use it as a guide for reshaping America's fu- cause other courageous and brave African- like Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, ture. American pioneers stood valiantly before me. and Mary Church Terrell shaped attitudes Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speak- During Black History Week, but most impor- within the African-American community and er, I thank my colleagues for this op- tantly throughout the year, I am reminded of won the respect of all Americans across the portunity to present issues with regard the legendary achievements that have paved country. Also, Marcus Garvey led what was la- to Black History Month this year. Our the way for my colleagues and I. beled the Black Nationalist movement and theme again was Heritage, Horizons, This year marks the first Black History fought institutional racism in the United States. Accepting the Challenges of the 21st Month celebration of the 21st Century. Appro- In the 1920s, '30s, and '40s, A. Philip Ran- Century. priately, the Association for the Study of Afri- dolph worked to organize African-American f can American Life and History has labeled workers and end the division of the labor ``Heritage and HorizonÐThe African American movement along racial lines. He also worked ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LEGISLA- Legacy and Contributions of the 21st Century'' diligently to end discrimination in the military TIVE AGENDA OF REPUBLICAN as the theme for this year's celebration. I think and the government. CONGRESS REGARDING EDU- you will agree, African-Americans have played And after World War II, African-American CATION an integral part in the development and pros- leaders like Charles Hamilton Houston, Wil- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. perity of our nation. Tonight, I would like my liam Henry Hastie, A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr., EMERSON). Under the Speaker’s an- remarks to reflect the rich legacy of the Afri- Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King, Adam nounced policy of January 6, 1999, the

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