[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 22 (Thursday, February 26, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 2004

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Black 
History Month. Black History Month was established in 1926 to pay 
tribute to the many African-Americans and other people of African 
descent for their myriad of contributions to human civilization. It is 
important to remember that during the years of 1619 and 1926 African-
Americans received no recognition of their achievements that are 
inseparable from our lives.
  Under President Woodrow Wilson's tutelage, the ``Negro History Week'' 
was created to promulgate the African-American achievements through 
sets of colloquiums, lectures, and exhibitions. It was to give a 
balanced view of all the people that contributed to the improvements of 
the Western society. Since then, the government has extended the 
longevity of the celebration to a month in order to provide a more 
extensive, global recognition and educational opportunity.
  This year marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court 
ruling in the case of Brown versus the Board of Education, which 
established that every child deserves an education that is equal and 
substantive. This case changed the way African-American children were 
educated and was a catalyst that promoted change in the areas of 
voting, housing, and social justice.
  In my home state of Arizona, before the year 1909, Arizona's schools 
were not segregated. However, during that year, Arizona's General 
Assembly passed legislation requiring African-American children to 
attend all black schools and be taught by black educators for the first 
eight years of their schooling. The first Tucson Unified Arizona 
District school to engage in segregation was the Paul Lawrence Dunbar 
School, named after a notable African-American poet. Through the 
collaboration of zealous teachers and caring parents, the students were 
able to receive a good education despite the school's inadequacies.
  In 1951, Tucson Unified School District freely decided to integrate 
the school system, and in 1952 the school was renamed John Spring.
  The school closed in 1978. To preserve the school, the Dunbar 
Coalition, a community organization, bought the property from Tucson 
Unified School District in 1995. The coalition is currently 
refurbishing the school and transforming it into an African-American 
Museum and Cultural Center. The school now serves as a venue for 
community events, and will be having a hearing on May 8th, 2004 to 
discuss the 50th anniversary of the Brown versus the Board of 
Education. Over 100 years ago, this building represented the inequities 
African-American children faced within the education system; it now 
symbolizes the injustices that are still present in the education 
system.
  Black History Month, along with other celebrations, holidays and 
laws, has recognized the discrimination, harassment and abuse that 
blacks have endured. It showcases how far we have progressed, as well 
as reminds us that our goal in reaching true equality has not yet been 
completely fulfilled. Black History Month is a tool that educates and 
teaches the community on the African-American experience and struggle.

  During this month, we acknowledge the many national African-American 
trailblazers such as, W.E.B. Dubois, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Martin 
Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglas, Malcolm X, and Hiram Revels and 
Shirley Chisholm, the first African-Americans elected to the U.S. 
Congress. Through these individuals and the dedication and hard work of 
countless others we, as Americans, are more tolerant, patient and 
accepting of others. We benefit from their legacies not in February 
alone, but every day.
  It is important that minority groups work collectively to ensure 
civil rights are sustained and each person is treated with the respect 
and dignity they deserve, regardless of the color of their skin or 
ethnic background. It is my goal to build strong alliances and 
coalitions among all minority communities to work collectively toward 
reaching true equality.
  I am very proud to have the opportunity to stand on the floor of the 
United States House of Representatives to help celebrate Black History 
Month. This is the time when we must commemorate and celebrate the 
lives of the many African-Americans that have made historic 
contributions in the areas of academics, politics, science/technology, 
and social justice. Their struggles and their triumphs are engraved in 
our everyday life and it is essential that we celebrate all of their 
accomplishments.

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