[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 23 (Monday, February 26, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1582-S1583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BLACK HISTORY MONTH

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I'd like to make a few comments today in 
recognition of Black History Month. For a quarter-century, our country 
has held the month of February in special regard as a time to remember 
and reflect on the rich history and extraordinary achievements of 
African Americans. Today, I would like to speak about some important 
and influential African Americans from my home State of Massachusetts.
  The diversity we celebrate during this month encompasses many areas. 
African-American leaders should be recognized not only for their 
achievements in the face of racial discrimination, but for the 
accomplishments they have made in a wide variety of occupations. 
Diversity stretches beyond race and crosses into gender, age, and 
occupation. The following men and women cover a wide spectrum of 
interests, eras, and accomplishments, and each has made a significant 
contribution to the Massachusetts community.
  In 1845, Macon B. Allen became the first African American officially 
admitted to the bar, and he practiced law for many years in Worcester, 
Massachusetts before moving to South Carolina, where he became one of 
the first black Federal judges in the Nation. Mr. Allen set a precedent 
that opened many doors for the minority attorneys and judges who 
followed in his footsteps.
  Dr. W.E.B DuBois has long been recognized as a figure of leadership 
in African-American history. Dr. Dubois fought racism through words, 
writing in such publications as the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People journal. He approached civil rights 
boldly, advocating the eradication of all distinctions on the basis of 
race or color. Throughout the early half of the 20th century, DuBois 
sought this ideal, in his words, ``to obtain without compromise such 
rights and privileges as belonged to members of civilization of which 
he was a part.''
  John Thomas, an athlete from Massachusetts, truly soared above his 
competition. As a freshman at Boston University, Thomas established a 
new world record for the high jump at 7 feet, 1\1/4\ inches in 1959. As 
the first athlete to consistently jump more than 7 feet, Thomas went on 
to break his own record twice. He represented America in the 1960 
Summer Olympics in Rome, medaling in the high jump. In addition to his 
athletic activities, Thomas served his local community as a leader in 
several organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America and the 
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
  Dorothy West was heralded as ``the last living member of the Harlem 
Renaissance'' until her death in 1998. Despite her ties to the New York 
artists' movement, her roots in Massachusetts run deep. Ms. West was 
born near Martha's Vineyard and spent nearly her entire life there. Ms. 
West became an award-winning writer when she was still a teenager, and 
she started and edited several literary magazines that focused on black 
writers of the era. She returned to Martha's Vineyard to finish her 
first novel, The Living is Easy, published in 1948, and to write her 
second novel, The Wedding, later published in 1995.
  These stories provide meaningful snapshot of how African Americans 
have contributed greatly to Massachusetts and our Nation. Their 
triumphs, along with the everyday achievements of African-Americans in 
my state, should be applauded. I am proud that my State has such a 
richly diverse history and I'm pleased we have set aside this month to 
commemorate these accomplished individuals. I hope as a Nation we will 
remember these achievements not only this month, but everyday.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on behalf of this 
year's Black History Month theme, ``Creating and Defining the African 
American Community: Family, Church, Politics and Culture.'' I would 
like to note that while we take time in February to recall the 
contributions, accomplishments and services that our fellow citizens 
have rendered, it is important to remember that the contributions of 
African Americans to America happen everyday in every walk of life.
  Moreover, in our review of these vital contributions, we are called 
upon to acknowledge the courage, talent, determination, leadership and 
vision of those men, women and children who made an impact in the face 
of incredible obstacles.
  This year's theme, I believe, is fundamental not only in defining the 
African American community, but the American community at large. The 
struggle for a better America begins with each individual and his or 
her call to civic

[[Page S1583]]

duty. The historical context of building a better America begins with 
gaining a deeper understanding of our history and how our social 
environment has been shaped.
  The civil rights movement helped our Nation, and particularly our 
government, recognize that universal participation and rights are 
enjoined upon all citizens, regardless of the color of their skin. One 
of the many lessons that can be gleaned from this movement is that it 
is our duty as Americans to embrace the diverse elements of our society 
so that future generations can see themselves in our Nation's past and 
realize that they have a role to play in seizing the future's countless 
opportunities.
  In acknowledging the various elements of the African American 
community of Family, Church, Politics and Culture, I would like to 
acknowledge a few of the outstanding contributions of African Americans 
in the state of Minnesota. Their efforts have helped shape the social, 
economic and political landscape of that vibrant community as well as 
the community at large.
  Just recently, the United States Postal Service issued a stamp in its 
Postal Service's Black Heritage commemorative series. This stamp 
commemorates the life and accomplishments of one of the great leaders 
of the civil rights movement, Mr. Roy Wilkins, who grew up in St. Paul 
and attended the University of Minnesota. In 1931 he was appointed 
assistant executive secretary of the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People, NAACP, the largest civil rights 
organization in the U.S. From 1934 to 1949 he was editor of The Crisis, 
the official magazine of the NAACP. Wilkins served as a consultant to 
the War Department on black employment during World War II. After the 
war he continued his service to the NAACP; he was executive secretary 
from 1955 to 1965 and executive director from 1965 until his retirement 
in 1977. He played a major role in the preparation of Brown versus 
Board of Education of Topeka, 1954, and was one of the organizers of 
the March on Washington in 1963. It is only fitting that the legacy of 
a man of such integrity, vision, and deep conviction is given tribute 
through this special recognition. His leadership and dedication to the 
civil rights cause is exemplary.
  I am proud to honor the religious community not only for their 
spiritual guidance of the African American community, but also for 
their unwavering efforts to improve the quality of life in our cities 
and state. The Coalition of Black Churches in Minneapolis and the St. 
Paul Ministerial Alliance truly have made a difference in the community 
with their outreach on behalf of their congregations and community, 
through their experience and sacrifice, through their political will 
with their legislative agendas, and most importantly, through their 
leadership and exemplary behavior. They are not simply preaching the 
meaning of values, family and community service, they are also showing 
us.

  In the arena of politics, Ms. Neva Walker became the first African 
American woman to be elected to the Minnesota Legislature just last 
fall. Given the dispiriting level of civic participation in our society 
today, I truly am appreciative of the vision and leadership that 
Representative Walker brings to her constituents and our state. I am 
honored to know and work with Representative Walker. As the first 
African American woman legislator in our state I know she will make 
important changes, provide needed leadership, and introduce legislation 
that will greatly help many people.
  Our community also is extremely privileged to have an organization 
with the capacity and outreach of African American Family Services. For 
25 years, this organization has reached out to the community to provide 
culturally specific services and programs ranging from providing 
critical services in clinical health, family preservation, domestic 
violence, and adolescent violence prevention and anger management. In 
addition, this organization provides its clients and the community with 
a resource center, which includes a resource library and a technical 
assistance center, which creates training programs to educate human 
resource professionals on enhancing service delivery to African 
American clients.
  A tribute to some of the heroes of the community would not be 
complete without a mention of two men who brought so much joy to the 
fans of the Minnesota Twins. Mr. Kirby Puckett and Mr. Dave Winfield, 
who were both inducted into Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame, 
provided Twins fans in Minnesota and around the country with some 
spectacular plays which will forever be in our memories. Aside from 
their outstanding professional accomplishments, both players continue 
to be exemplary role models and community leaders.
  Let us take this opportunity to re-dedicate and re-invigorate 
ourselves, as Americans, to the cause of working together to create a 
society which not only understands the concept of unity in diversity, 
but lives it; which not only preaches economic justice, but implements 
it; that not only espouses equality of opportunity, but ensures it.

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