[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 1, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E63]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 1, 2006

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, this February we commemorate Black History 
Month. Since 1976, the month of February has been the designated time 
for honoring the countless African-American contributions to American 
history and culture. We should all take this opportunity to learn about 
and understand the Black experience in this country. It has completely 
revolutionized our shared concepts of freedom, hope, and justice.
  In celebrating the progress our country has made because of these 
contributions, let us also be honest and frank in determining what 
remains undone. We must work to ensure that all of America's 
communities have access to the American dream. We cannot ignore the 
reality that many Americans, particularly within the African-American 
community, still face serious obstacles in accessing the opportunities 
everyone deserves in education, health care, home ownership, and 
economic development. The devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita 
only serve to highlight the remaining challenges of seeking equality 
and equal treatment under the law.
  We must commit ourselves to challenging the social, political, and 
economic status quo so that each of us may realize the dream of equal 
opportunity envisioned by the late Dr. King, and now the late Coretta 
Scott King. This year, Black History Month will be dedicated to the 
memory of Ms. King.
  Our Nation mourns the recent loss of Coretta Scott King, a true 
American icon who championed civil and human rights for all Americans. 
Widow of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., Ms. King first stepped 
into the international spotlight as the wife and faithful supporter of 
the famed minister, ultimately emerging as an influential civil rights 
advocate in her own right. She was 78 at her passing. I hope you will 
join me in remembering this great person and the precious values that 
her life embodied. She was not only a symbol of positive change but 
also a tireless agent of progress. May her work continue to influence 
future generations in the ongoing fight for justice in this Nation and 
throughout the world.
  During the month of February, I encourage all Americans to honor 
African-Americans by attending local Black History Month events, or 
hosting a roundtable discussion about Black History Month at the local 
library with African-American activists from your community. The best 
way to honor the African American experience is to educate oneself and 
one's community. Use this month to expose yourselves to the ways in 
which the African American experience has already been made a part of 
your life.

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