[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 35 (Friday, February 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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                               speech of

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 22, 1995
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate my dear friend and 
colleague Louis Stokes who once again has called upon the Members of 
the House to come together to pay tribute to the deeds and 
accomplishments of African-Americans during Black History Month.
  It is a great history we have to remember, one that could take us 
back to the first slave ship that arrived on the American shores. But 
even as we would rejoice over those many positive developments, from 
the Emancipation Proclamation to the Voting Rights Act, we must now 
look around us and consider that many of the gains of our recent 
history are now threatened by a wave of scapegoating that is sweeping 
the country.
  How sad it is that, because of economic frustration and doubts about 
the future, so many Americans are now pointing fingers of blame to 
those who are the weakest among us. How unfortunate it is that by doing 
so, we are allowing many of our political leaders to destroy the safety 
net that has been erected to protect the poor, the sick, the children, 
and the aged. It is as if, in their partisan zeal, they would do away 
completely with the legacy of the great President Franklin Roosevelt..
  The first victim in this misguided crusade is affirmative action. It 
is no secret that even some of our Presidential candidates have made it 
their target, one even saying that if elected he will make it the first 
item on the national agenda.
  Just this week in the House of Representatives, a vote was taken to 
take down the first plank of the affirmative action structure. No, it 
was not that well-known or popular because few minorities or women 
could benefit directly from it. But it was important. By providing tax 
incentives for the sale of radio and television stations to minorities 
and women this provision in the law gave those groups a chance to 
improve the horrendously negative images that prevail in the media.
  How tiresome and insulting it has been over the years to see nothing 
but Amos 'n Andy, buffoons and now criminals as the stereotypes of 
blacks in the movies and on television. This provision was meant to 
give minority broadcasters a chance to reflect images that would 
elevate rather than denigrate their children and their families, to 
broadcast something different from the killers, pimps, and drug dealers 
that have become the latest stereotypes of black males portrayed on 
television.
  This action by the House was the first assault on affirmative action. 
In California next year, it will be followed by a referendum that would 
outlaw any preference in the areas of employment, education, and 
business. That movement promises to be adopted in other States around 
the country, and may well be addressed by the U.S. Congress even before 
that.
  What an outrage it is that in our great country, the home of every 
minority group, every race and religion, that we should now be taking 
steps away from having everyone represented in all our institutions. 
Indeed, we are all Americans, and if affirmative action is what it 
takes to have us all represented, then affirmative action it must be. 
What are we doing, after all, but making our institutions better, 
including the best of every group, painting the gorgeous mosaic, that 
makes America what it is.
  The assault on affirmative action is only the tip of the iceberg in 
what is clearly a broad campaign of scapegoating. The focus is now on 
African-Americans, but it is expanding to include other minorities, the 
poor and immigrants. This is a campaign that began in the last 
election, where the principle themes were crime and welfare. These 
appeals were not so blatant as the infamous Willie Horton ads in the 
first Bush campaign, but the objective was the same.
  The assault has intensified since last November, and has been 
broadened to include a generalized campaign against high ranking Black 
officials from Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders to Commerce Secretary 
Ron Brown. Both of these officials without being charged with any crime 
came under the attack of right wing Republicans who found them easy 
targets for political attacks.
  Also in the political arena, the U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in 
with the strong input from Justice Clarence Thomas, and is now widely 
expected to shatter, not only affirmative action but the very laws 
which have made it possible to elect thousands of Blacks and Latinos to 
public office, from local sheriffs to Members of Congress. The alleged 
constitutional offense involves the use of gerrymandering to create 
electoral districts that have made it easier to elect minorities to 
office. It is the same system that no one challenged when used to 
enhance the chances to elect Republicans or Democrats.
  The attacks on Black Americans in some cases has reverted to the 
cruder forms. Hate crimes reported to the FBI almost doubled between 
1991 and 1993, with Blacks accounting for 57 percent of the 1,689 
victims. On the cultural front, three books were published in 1994 that 
renew claims that Blacks are genetically inferior.
  The current challenge to affirmative action in the Congress, 
therefore, is only part of a broader effort to turn back the clock on 
Civil Rights while unraveling the entire safety net that has protected 
those in our society who have the least.
  The current campaign to cut $780 billion in taxes over the next 10 
years while maintaining defense, Social Security, Medicare and payments 
on the national debt used to be called Voodoo economics. Now, in the 
context of the Contract With America, of balanced budget amendments, 
block grants and welfare reform, it is a recipe for savaging the poor, 
minorities, the aged, the sick and the children.
  Indeed much of the Contract With America will trample on the poor, 
but particularly on African-Americans who disproportionately rely on 
these benefits. The contract targets not only teen-age mothers who are 
so bereft of hope that only having a child--in or out of wedlock--will 
provide any sense of accomplishment.
  But cutting back on crime and drug prevention programs, the contract 
turns it back on the youths, especially young, untrained, unemployed 
Black males who are being left to the whims of streets, with nothing 
more to look forward to than more jails. The balanced budget amendment 
puts at risk programs in education, public transportation and other 
programs most needed by the poor and minorities.
  During this Black History Month, we must rejoice in the 
accomplishments of the past, but we must remain vigilant of the 
challenges in the present. The threat to affirmative action, education, 
employment and to the social safety meant may be only the beginning.


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