[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H2378-H2379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. Franks] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FRANKS of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, the following is my tribute 
to African-Americans during Black History Month.
  At one time teaching a black child how to read was against the law. 
For blacks to congregate other than for church was against the law. For 
blacks to vote was against the law. Our forefathers proved their 
imperfection by claiming that blacks were not to be counted as full 
human beings.
  Just 40 plus years ago, the separate-but-equal schools debate was 
going on which led to the historic desegregation of our schools. Terms 
like inferior, discrimination, States rights, racism, segregation, 
civil rights were part of the lingo of the past, or are they, Mr. 
Speaker?
  States rights. States argued that if they did not want to treat a 
black child fairly, it was fine. If a State wanted blacks to use 
separate water fountains, it was fine. If a State wanted blacks to use 
separate lavatories, it was fine. Thanks to the Federal Government, we 
have come a long way. [[Page H2379]] 
  The logic of blacks being inferior was the reason why blacks were not 
allowed to go to school with white children. Some would say that today 
being inferior is the reason why blacks should not be admitted into 
certain schools with whites. For those who hold those beliefs, both 
ideas would restrict blacks from receiving the highest quality 
education, and that, Mr. Speaker, would be wrong.
  Both then and to a degree now some would like people to believe that 
blacks are inferior to whites. They would want people to believe that 
God made lesser people. They would produce one study after another to 
try to convince the masses that blacks are doomed to their fate because 
they just do not have the same abilities as whites.
  Mr. Speaker, they fail to note that children with college-educated 
parents do better on standardized tests than children of non-college-
educated parents. It is very simple.
  They refuse to appreciate that strong family values, education, a 
willingness to work hard, and the availability of opportunities can 
help strengthen all of our Nation's people.
  As an example, Mr. Speaker, my mother graduated from high school but 
my father only had a sixth-grade education. He could barely read or 
write. Yet today, three of my sisters hold doctorate degrees, one of my 
brothers is a colonel in the Army, and my other brother is a 
schoolteacher in Ansonia, CT. Mr. Speaker, I am the only one in my 
family with one college degree.
  Let us remember that we help our Nation by strengthening our weakest 
link, not by crushing it. Being compassionate toward the less fortunate 
is not a liberal or a conservative concept, because we are all 
Americans.
  I thank the voters of the Fifth Congressional District of 
Connecticut, a 90-percent white district, for three times electing me, 
an African-American, to serve in this august body representing them.
  Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to thank all the African-
American leaders who have waged a fight for equality and justice over 
the decades. We must not forget our history, or else we may be subject 
to repeating it again.


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