[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 166 (Monday, November 17, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H11170-H11171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GEORGE HENRY WHITE POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3353) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 525 Main Street in Tarboro, North Carolina, as the
``George Henry White Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3353
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. GEORGE HENRY WHITE POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 525 Main Street in Tarboro, North
Carolina, shall be known and designated as the ``George Henry
White Post Office Building''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be
a reference to the George Henry White Post Office Building.
[[Page H11171]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Ballance) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).
General Leave
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, I am
pleased that the House is considering H.R. 3353. This bill names a post
office after a great American statesman, George Henry White. From 1897
to 1901, Republican George Henry White served two terms as the U.S.
Representative for North Carolina's Second Congressional District. At
that time, he was the only African American Member of Congress. As
such, not only was Congressman White responsible for his North Carolina
constituents, but as the highest-ranking black government official in
the Nation he also shouldered the burden of representing the 10 million
African Americans at the turn of the century.
Congressman White took principled stands against the racial
inequality that was far too prevalent for this time period in American
history. His eloquence and temperance toward injustice made him a well-
respected Member of Congress, and he is truly worthy of commendation by
this body from which he departed more than 100 years ago.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation commemorates George Henry White's
courageous legacy as the last black Member of this House following
Reconstruction. I congratulate the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Ballance) for having his bill considered by the whole House.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 3353.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BALLANCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, we gather this afternoon to honor a great man and leader
who blazed trails for African Americans not only in North Carolina but
throughout the Nation, Congressman George Henry White from my home
State of North Carolina.
I want to express my appreciation for the strong bipartisan support
from the North Carolina delegation and the sponsorship of this bill.
We are here today, Mr. Speaker, to show our appreciation for
Congressman White by naming the post office after him in Tarboro, North
Carolina, the town which he represented; and the County of Edgecombe,
which he represented with distinction as a part of the second
congressional district, I now have the great privilege of representing
that same community, humbly following in his footsteps.
Mr. George Henry White was born in Rosendale, Bladen County, North
Carolina, during slavery. He grew up the son of a sharecropper in
nearby Columbus County. He was educated at the Whitten School in
Lumberton. He first embarked on his trail of excellence when he left
his job as a farm laborer and ventured here to the Nation's Capital to
attend Howard University. Many people mistake him as being a graduate
of Howard Law School, but actually he was a graduate of high school and
Howard undergraduate school.
Upon graduation from Howard University in 1877, Mr. White returned to
North Carolina settling in the coastal town of New Bern, to begin the
fight to better his North Carolina for all families and helping empower
the African American community.
He became a teacher and then a principal and is credited with
establishing four new schools. Mr. White knew then what we all know
now: information is power, and the key to steering one's own course is
a quality education.
While living in New Bern, where he also worked as an attorney, having
read law to become a lawyer, Mr. White embarked upon a career in public
service spanning more than 2 decades when, in 1880, he was elected to
the North Carolina House of Representatives.
In 1884 he was elected to the North Carolina State Senate. And in
1886 he was elected as a solicitor for the second judicial district of
North Carolina where he served two terms. During this time, George
Henry White was the only African American district attorney in the
United States. Continuing a political career steeped in innovation and
leadership, blazing trails unheard of in his day, in 1894 Mr. White
moved to Tarboro. It might be interesting to know that the one reason
he moved was because there was redistricting going on and his hometown
of New Bern was carved out of the second district. So he just packed up
and moved down to Tarboro, North Carolina, his wife's hometown.
Three years later, he would become Congressman White, and only the
third African American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina, John Adams Hyman being the first, Henry P.
Cheatham the second.
Congressman White was the only African American in the United States
Congress during his two terms and was the highest-ranking elected
African American in the United States. He essentially represented not
only citizens of the second congressional district but all 10 million
African Americans across the Nation. He was the last former slave and
the last African American to serve in the Congress during the post-
Reconstruction era.
He opened doors while in Congress to pave the way for the civil
rights movement more than half a century later. He campaigned against
racial discrimination and urged enforcement of the second section of
the 14th amendment.
In January 1901, his last year in office, Congressman White proposed
a bill that would make lynching of African Americans a Federal crime.
Unfortunately, this bill did not pass; but it did have some impact in
the Deep South in particular. Despite Congressman White's passionate
plea, as I indicated, the term ended without his bill passing.
George Henry White's farewell speech on the floor of Congress, often
referred to as the ``Phoenix Speech,'' or his farewell speech, was made
January 29, 1901: ``This, Mr. Chairman, is perhaps the Negroes'
temporary farewell to the American Congress; but let me say, Phoenix-
like he will rise up some day and come again. These parting words on
behalf of an outraged, heartbroken, bruised and bleeding, but God-
fearing people, faithful, industrious, loyal, rising people full of
potential force.''
Mr. Speaker, while Congressman White is deserving of far greater
accolades, and I am sure they will come in time, it is my great
pleasure to offer this legislation on his behalf. I urge the passage of
this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from North Carolina
(Mr. Ballance) for introducing this very appropriate bill, and I urge
all of our colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 3353.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3353.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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