[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E187-E188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF OSSIE DAVIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 8, 2005

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the great 
life and legacy of Ossie Davis, a leader, innovator, and inspiration to 
us all.
  Ossie Davis was the older of five children born in the small town of 
Cogdell Georgia in 1917, but mainly grew up in nearby Waycross and 
Valdosta Georgia. In 1935 he left home, hitchhiking to Washington DC, 
where he entered Howard University as a student of Drama. At the time 
he had plans of becoming a playwright and expressing his artistic 
ability on stage. In 1939 his career as an actor began with the Rose 
McClendon Players in Harlem where he developed for 3 years and gained 
his first professional acting debut in 1941 performing in ``Joy 
Exceeding Glory''. During World War II, Mr. Davis spent close to 4 
years serving his country as a surgical technician in an Army hospital 
in Liberia, tending to wounded troops and the people of the country.
  After the war in 1946 and back in New York, Mr. Davis debuted on 
Broadway in ``Jeb'' a fitting story about a soldier returning home from 
the war. His co-star in this love story was a well known actress Ruby 
Dee. In December of 1948, the couple jumped on a bus to New Jersey and 
got married on a day off from rehearsal. Since meeting on the 1946 
Broadway production, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee have stood out as a 
collaborative beacon of light leading generations of African Americans 
to follow in their footsteps in the field of fine arts and at the same 
time standing in the foreground of social consciousness.
  The era of the Cold War brought with it feelings of uncertainty 
concerning political ideas and racial issues. During this period of 
social upheaval, Mr. Davis and others as Black performers found 
themselves under a watchful eye with McCarthyism on the rise. While the 
Cold War was in full swing, Mr. Davis stood by, most notably, Paul 
Robeson, a fellow actor and singer who was a well known communist 
sympathizer. Mr. Davis stood by his side like a true friend when others 
severed ties to Robeson, and along with his wife Ruby Dee, they 
resisted the ever growing threat of McCarthyism. Davis was remembered 
to have said, ``We young ones in the theater, trying to fathom even as 
we followed, were pulled this way and that by the swirling currents of 
these new dimensions of the struggle.''

[[Page E188]]

  Mr. Davis was also a leading activist in the Civil Rights era of the 
1960's. He stood side by side with Martin Luther King Jr. in the 
movement for freedom, equality and unity within our Nation for all. As 
close friends of the Reverend Dr. King, Ossie and Ruby Dee served as 
Masters of ceremonies for the historic 1963 March on Washington. As a 
strong advocate of the African American identity, Mr. Davis stood by 
the stimulating words, moving persona, and in his words, ``The 
manifestation of Black manhood'' that was Malcolm X. He full heartedly 
felt Malcolm's message of determination, self Love, and Knowledge of 
self.
  When Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King passed away Mr. Davis 
eulogized them both at their funerals. Many believed Mr. Davis would 
lose his career as an actor for delivering an eulogy for Brother 
Malcolm X, an enormously controversial figure in American History. The 
courage of Mr. Davis to brave the fire for his allegiance to Brother 
Malcolm X displays his sensitivity to issues affecting the hearts and 
minds of the African Americans, and the strong foundation of his 
heritage that was rooted in his soul.
  His efforts as a Civil Rights leader, activist and vanguard as an 
actor in Black Hollywood are a testament to his views on equality and 
freedom. Mr. Davis was also a firm believer of self love and 
righteousness within the Black community. His choice of acting roles 
and his written works reflect these ideas in a clear and unmistakable 
manner. Mr. Davis used his charisma and sheer talent on and off camera 
to explore and unfold the complex issues which affect our society and 
are most often swept under the rug. As a socially conscious actor, he 
could not sit back while such complex issuers go unnoticed, making 
himself a part of such classical projects as Do the Right Thing, Jungle 
Fever, Malcolm X and most recently She Hate Me, all projects of writer, 
actor, director Spike Lee.
  Before his untimely death, Ossie Davis began to give back to the 
community in a number of different fashions. He did not simply throw 
money at a problem, but took a more nurturing hand on approach to his 
philanthropy efforts. In 2004 Mr. Davis returned home to his Alma 
Mater, The Mecca-Howard University where he became a visiting professor 
in the John H. Johnson School of Communications. Additionally, he 
served as the orator for Howard's 2004 Charter Day where he also 
received a special citation of achievement.
  In his community service Mr. Davis was also an advocate for issues 
affecting young Black males. In 2004 Mr. Davis and his wife Ruby Dee 
were the luncheon speakers and kicked off the State of the African 
American Male (SAAM) Conference which I hosted. Mr. Davis stated that 
it was his personal mission to reverse the trends affecting our young 
black males, such as drug addiction, high drop out rates and criminal 
issues.
  Ossie Davis will forever live in our hearts and minds through his 
countless efforts to the community, his effortless talents on and off 
camera, and as a loving father and husband. He will also be recognized 
on the world stage as a pioneer of the Civil Rights movement, fighting 
for justice, equality and what he knew was right during a time of 
social uncertainty. Ossie Davis knew as a person not afraid to think 
outside the box that the issues facing this country were bigger than 
you or I and no one person could lead this country to the promised 
land. He felt a collective effort of change was needed and is quoted as 
saying. ``It's not the man, it's the plan.''