[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 197 (Tuesday, December 12, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H14355-H14356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF SWEARING IN OF FIRST BLACK MEMBER OF CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I see my colleague, the gentleman 
from Maryland [Mr. Mfume], who is 

[[Page H14356]]
still here in the Chamber, and I extend to my colleague from Maryland, 
who is my colleague and my friend, I extend to him my sincerest best 
wishes as he takes on a new challenge in his life in leading the NAACP 
into the 21st century. Over the last 11 months, I have seen my friend 
be the consummate professional, and I extend to him my very best wishes 
in his new endeavor and challenge.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute tonight to an important 
anniversary. 125 years ago this very night, the first African-American 
Congressman was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a 
Republican--a member of the party of Lincoln. He was the Honorable 
Joseph Hayne Rainey and it was the start of a legacy that continued. 
Senator Hiram Rhodes Revels of Mississippi was the first black Senator 
and then Congressman Jefferson Long of Georgia, Robert DeLarge of South 
Carolina, and Robert Elliot of South Carolina and the list goes on with 
20 more Members of Congress serving with Mr. George White of North 
Carolina serving in the 55th and 56th Congress.
  Following the seating of Congressman White in 1897, 15 sessions of 
Congress passed until another African-American was elected to Congress. 
In 1928, Oscar De Priest of Illinois became the first African-American 
elected to Congress from outside the South.
  What an odd turn around has occurred and what an important time for 
us to stop and take stock. Folks, I look forward to the day when all of 
us will be judged by the content of our character rather than the 
color of our skin. These people we honor tonight has gone before us as 
trailblazers--as members of the only party that was founded on an 
idea--the idea of freedom.

  The party of Lincoln believed in equality of opportunity, empowering 
people, not government, cultural renewal because these are principles 
which transcend race, creed, color. Lincoln so fervently believed in a 
government of the people, by the people and for the people that his 
emancipation proclamation enabled all of us--those who have gone before 
me and the current African-American Members of this Congress to serve. 
Freedom also make it possible for every person in this U.S. to have the 
opportunity to serve regardless of race, creed, or color. Black 
Americans and white Americans must be full partners in developing 
policy of this great Nation.
  Those were brave souls who first ran after being enslaved. Those were 
brave souls who against all odds decided they would put their name in 
the hat for public service. Those were brave souls who went before us 
in Congress and we must honor them by doing the right thing, now.
  Mr. Speaker, we must honor these hallowed Halls and the sacred trust 
of those who sent us here by telling the truth, by honoring the 
constitution and by making sure that the ultimate source of power is 
always with the people of this great Nation.
  We must honor those who sent us here by honoring God and seeking his 
guidance on important issues as those who went before us. We must honor 
the trust of these Halls by being kind and extending a hand to all 
people to serve with us.
  Mr. Speaker, on this 125th anniversary of the first African-American, 
Mr. Joseph Rainey from South Carolina to serve in Congress, I thank God 
for this Nation that allows J.C. Watts, Jr.--the fifth child of J.C., 
Sr. and Helen Watts to also stand and serve in this Congress. I owe a 
great debt to those who have gone before me and I hope that we can 
leave an even better legacy for our children--red, yellow, black, and 
white.

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