[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 40 (Wednesday, April 1, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H2037-H2038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO THE FAMILY OF RON BROWN, AND IN RECOGNITION OF DR. MARTIN 
                              LUTHER KING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Nussle). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. This evening, Mr. Speaker, I will not take 
all of my time, but I wanted to pay tribute to the Ron Brown family, 
Alma, Tracey, and Michael. This evening Tracey Brown, the daughter of 
our former Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown, had the book signing for 
her personal tribute to her father. I believe that there is no greater 
tribute than that a child can give to a parent.
  Certainly as we reflect on what this government means and the idea of 
public service, we certainly recognize that former Secretary Ron Brown 
was that kind of public servant: a giant, gentle, strong, persevering.
  As I looked around the room where the book signing occurred, I saw so 
many diverse faces, people from all walks of life; people who had no 
personal stake in their presence this evening, other than to pay 
particular tribute to a man who was unselfish in his giving, in his 
love of his country.
  It was interesting to see my colleague, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt), who indicated that he had attended 
college with Ron Brown and is noted in the book.
  It is not often we have time to thank family members and to again say 
how sorry we are that we lost such a patriot, such a contributor to the 
process of government. But to Tracey Brown and her family, I would like 
to thank them so very much for persevering, staying steady, and 
continuing to love our country.
  We are very privileged to have Mrs. Brown, who continues to stand as 
an example of a family that has given so much.
  To Tracey, my hat is off to her for the singular purpose of this last 
year of writing about her father.
  At the same time, Mr. Speaker, if I might, I will add my recognition 
and special feeling about the 30th anniversary or commemoration of the 
assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. It is important in this time, 
when we spend so much time using and reusing the words and the beliefs 
of Dr. King.
  Sometimes they are used in ways that I think are not befitting both 
his image, his message, and his leadership, for too often on the floor 
of this House I have heard so many cite Dr. King's message about a 
color-blind society, or being judged by your character, not the color 
of your skin, to raise legislation to eliminate opportunity for 
minorities and women.
  Often when we are debating the question of totally eliminating 
affirmative action for women and minorities in this country, after 
acknowledging just recently that discrimination is still a very harsh 
part of American society, I will hear those rising to the floor, 
commentators and others, citing the words of Dr. Martin Luther King.
  I would like to think of Dr. King as a gentle spirit, one who knew 
the importance of nonviolence as opposed to violence, but he was a 
serious, straightforward gentleman. He always spoke his mind. You never 
had to think about what he was saying.

[[Page H2038]]

  I think in all instances he asked us as Americans to be truthful, to 
accept the truth, to acknowledge the truth, and not to run away from 
the truth. Racism does exist in this Nation, and it is for us, as 
Americans, to work together to live in harmony. I think Dr. King would 
want us to do that.
  So the anniversary of his assassination is not a time of sadness, but 
commemoration and commitment to the fact that each of us will try to 
overcome the devastation of racism and the fact that we isolate 
ourselves from other groups. President Clinton's recent visit to 
Africa, now almost finished, should signal the importance of Americans 
reaching out to all diverse groups.
  Dr. King would be smiling, and he would hope that as we debate issues 
of national prominence, as we speak around this country, Dr. King would 
want us to use his words in truth and to recognize that what he wants 
for this Nation is equal opportunity for all. Until that date comes, I 
can imagine Dr. King somewhere continuing his fight, his oration, his 
speech, his nonviolent way, but never giving up until there is racial 
harmony in this Nation.

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