[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 12, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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                               speech of

                         HON. RONALD V. DELLUMS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 11, 1997

  Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of Black 
History Month. The observation of Black History Month dates back to 
1926 when African-American historian and scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson 
introduced ``Negro History Week,'' traditionally observed during the 
second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham 
Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, a personal hero. In 1976, this was 
expanded to include the entire month of February. In many communities, 
this has also been expanded with celebrations beginning with Kwanzaa in 
late December, continuing in January with the birthday celebration of 
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through February, culminating in May with 
the birthday of Malcolm X. Of course, it goes without saying that black 
history is relevant everyday especially in the United States since it 
is inextricably linked to the history and development of this Nation.
  I would like to take this opportunity to highlight one celebration 
that resonates personally. This past Sunday, February 9, the Pullman 
Blues Whistle Stop Tour departed Jack London Square in my hometown of 
Oakland, CA. This tour was created to coincide with a February 16 
celebration by the Historic Pullman Foundation in honor of the 
thousands of African-American men and women who provided the Pullman 
Co. and the railroads of America with over a century of faithful 
service on the passenger trains of railroad's Golden Age.
  My uncle, C.L. Dellums, for whom the Amtrak station at London Square 
is named, was a Pullman car porter. He was a colleague and comrade of 
A. Philip Randolph in the struggle to bring dignity to the jobs that 
were being performed by railroad workers. Their pioneering struggle 
that resulted in the creation of the first largely African-American 
trade union was a harbinger not only of future victories for worker 
rights--but it was a catalyst that led to some of the important and 
more general civil rights victories in our society. It is no small 
wonder that this movement succeeded, given the towering vision and the 
charismatic intellectual leadership of people like A. Philip Randolph 
and C.L. Dellums.
  This cross country whistle stop tour via two private railroad cars 
began in Oakland, stopping over at Los Angeles, Kansas City, St. Louis, 
Chicago, and will end in the historic town of Pullman, IL. Cosponsors 
of this event include the A. Philip Randolph Institute, the NAACP, 
Amtrak, Twayne Publishers, and various private and union sponsors 
throughout the country.
  Their efforts to highlight the work of thousands of African-American 
men and women in the railroad industry is an important and moving 
contribution to our continuing struggle to bring about equality of 
opportunity and an end to bigotry and intolerance in our Nation. We 
have so far to go to achieve equality, and we desperately need to 
remain engaged in this struggle--not just because the goal is so 
terribly important but because we need urgently to persuade our 
children that we continue to fight and struggle for their future as 
well.
  I applaud their efforts and wish them the very best in their 
celebration.

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