[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       TRIBUTE TO LASHAUN QUARLES

                                 ______


                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 1995
  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased and proud to rise today to 
salute LaShaun Quarles, an eighth grader who attends St. Aloysius 
School in Cheektowaga, NY.
  LaShaun was chosen as the first place winner of a Black History 
Contest which I sponsored to help commemorate Black History Month. 
Students throughout the congressional district were encouraged to 
highlight some of the important contributions African-Americans have 
made to our Nation.
  LaShaun chose Marcus Garvey as a figure whom she believes is vitally 
important to the history of the United States. A panel of judges found 
LaShaun's essay to be most inspirational and knowledgeable.
  LaShaun's admiration for Marcus Garvey and appraisal of his 
principles is worthy of our attention. I commend her essay to you and 
ask that it be placed in the Record.
          Why Marcus Garvey Is Important to the United States

              (By LaShaun Quarles, St. Aloysius, Grade 8)

       Marcus Garvey was a man who founded a most significant 
     movement in African American freedom. Garvey traveled around 
     the world forming the Universal Negro Improvement Association 
     (UNIA) and teaching African Americans that black is 
     beautiful.
       I found Garvey's principles to be interesting. I learned a 
     great deal from them. One of Garvey's principles includes 
     ``never spend all of your earnings.'' It is very important to 
     save a little of what you earn. I have observed a number of 
     young African Americans spending a great deal of money on 
     clothes, Nikes, etc. We need to begin to save a portion of 
     our money towards our education and future. Reading about 
     Garvey has encouraged me to save even more of my money.
       Another one of Garvey's principles is to ``have pride in 
     your race.'' In a world where black is often hated, he taught 
     us that black is beautiful. Not having pride in your race 
     destroys our self-esteem and confidence. We as people must 
     learn to love and appreciate ourselves and recognize the 
     beauty of being African. Garvey was against skin bleaching 
     and hair straighteners. He felt that God made us dark skin 
     with coarser hair for a reason, and that we should keep 
     ourselves looking natural. I realize that some young people 
     within my community need to have more pride in their race and 
     not be concerned about changing their physical appearance. If 
     you choose to change something about yourself, it should be 
     because you want to and not because you feel your friends 
     will have more respect for you.
       Good character is a good principle also. Back in the early 
     1900's when Caucasians met an African America, they would 
     automatically think that the person was bad news, but if you 
     have a good personality, it will usually come naturally for a 
     person to like you. I realize that you should always take 
     time to know a person before passing judgement. As I look 
     within my community, I realize that some kids judge people 
     based on how they look or how they are dressed. We will often 
     find better friends if we look for a good character.
       Another principle that Garvey talked about was ``obey the 
     rules of society.'' This is an important principle because so 
     many people do not obey rules. Many young African Americans 
     go to jail because they broke a law. We have rules in society 
     for a reason, if there were no rules, there would be no order 
     in society. We have rules in school, and they are there so 
     that we may be more disciplined and prepared for life.
       ``Never stop learning'' is another principle that Garvey 
     stressed. I realize that it is necessary that I stay in 
     school, if I am to reach my goal of becoming a lawyer. I hope 
     that all young people continue their education. With 
     education, kids most likely will not resort to selling or 
     using drugs, because they would realize the negative 
     consequence of their actions.
       Reading about Marcus Garvey has encouraged me to continue 
     to have high self-esteem and pride in my race, not so that I 
     may hate other races, but respect them as human beings with 
     feelings. Marcus Garvey was a courageous man, and he not only 
     helped me to discover the principles that I will use to guide 
     my own life, but it teaches me about my African American 
     heritage and about America itself. I think it is very crucial 
     for us to know the heroes of our history.
     

                          ____________________