[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H413-H414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              NORTH AMERICAN SLAVERY MEMORIAL COUNCIL ACT

  The SPEAKER. Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2001, 
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) is recognized during morning 
hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, it is a delight to be back here to serve 
the people.
  I am here in honor of Black History Month. I would like to bring my 
colleagues' attention to legislation that I intend to introduce today. 
The bill is entitled the North American Slavery Memorial Council Act.
  I believe that this bill can best be thought of by a quote from Papa 
Dallas Stewart. He was a former slave that was captured; and his 
comment sort of provides the essence, I think, of what my bill is 
trying to do. This is what he said: ``And one thing I want you to 
promise me: that you are going to tell all the children my story.'' So 
my colleagues, we need to tell it.
  Stewart, a former slave, knew firsthand the heartache and the pain 
that slavery could bring. As a child, his eyes were burned out when an 
overseer caught him simply studying the alphabet. He spent his life 
encouraging others to never forget the horrors of slavery. He 
understood the problems of forgetting the past. He recognized that we 
must share the painful past in order to protect our future. We must 
help ensure that future generations grasp the injustice that occurred 
in North America's past so that we may never repeat it.
  My bill is patterned after the Holocaust Museum Act and pays tribute 
to those who suffered and perished under slavery in North America.
  Mr. Speaker, slavery infected our past and oppressed several ethnic 
groups. Education is one of the best weapons to prevent such 
injustices, and what better way to educate future generations than with 
a fitting tribute in our Nation's Capital to those who were enslaved in 
North America.
  My bill is designed to ensure that Americans never forget the horrors 
of slavery. We have wisely given honor to those who lost their lives 
and suffered during the Holocaust. But we have neglected to honor those 
who lost their lives and were imprisoned by slavery. We should offer a 
proper tribute to those who were denied their freedom in North America, 
and I am confident that my bill will help to rectify this oversight.
  Last year, the Roth Horowitz Gallery in New York City showed a 
splendid exhibition. It was entitled ``Witness.'' The exhibit 
chronicled the practice of lynching between 1863 and 1960. An article 
stated that after the opening of the exhibit, hundreds of visitors had 
poured in to see the exhibit, many of them waiting in lines up to 20 
minutes in freezing temperatures. After one viewer came out, this is 
what he said: ``Perhaps the popularity of this exhibition should serve 
as an argument for a museum devoted to slavery.''
  Acknowledging slavery as a tragedy is very important. Groups have 
begun holding commemorations on their own. In fact, one group is the 
St. Paul's Community Baptist Church of Brooklyn, New York. The horror 
they are remembering is what is called the Middle Passage and the 
hundreds of years of enslavement that followed. The church pastor, the 
Reverend Johnny Ray Youngblood, would like every church and civic 
organization in this country to do the same.
  Youngblood believes, along with many of his church congregants, that 
acknowledging, just simply acknowledging the pain of the past will pave 
the way for real change, political and personal.
  Several noted psychologists contend that because of the trauma from 
this original deep wound, it was so great, so deep and has gone on so 
long publicly ungrieved, it may account for some of our social ills.
  As with the many public remembrances of the Jewish Holocaust, St. 
Paul's commemoration allows grieving for forefathers and mothers, 
acknowledging the psychic wounds whose agonies still are felt in our 
communities today. One church observer said, ``You have to admit there 
was pain, real pain. Once you admit it, then you can heal it.''
  So, Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what this museum would seek to do. 
We can heal, and people healing will prevent division. One way is to 
acknowledge the past problems and injustices. Americans have a rich 
history, but we must be true in recalling our history and slavery is 
sadly a part of that history. This museum will stand as a beacon and 
not only pay tribute to those who were forced into slavery, but should 
also stand to help end slavery that still exists throughout the world.
  For the sake of Papa Stewart and countless others, we must never 
forget the past. I encourage my colleagues to join with me in 
cosponsoring the North American Slavery Museum bill.

[[Page H414]]



                          ____________________