[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 6, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING DR. ASA G. HILLIARD III

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 6, 2008

  Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life 
of Dr. Asa G. Hilliard III (Baffour Amankwatia II). A devoted father, 
husband, mentor, and world-renowned humanitarian who worked tirelessly 
and inspired us all, Dr. Hilliard will be sorely missed by us all. Asa 
passed away on August 13, 2007.
  An accomplished academic and devoted professor, Dr. Hilliard affected 
the lives of thousands of students. He was not only a mentor in his 
community, but a hero in the African Diaspora Movement. Dr. Hilliard 
began his academic career in Denver, where he earned a B.A. in 
Education Psychology, an M.A. in counseling, and a Ed.D in Education 
Psychology at the University of Denver.
  Dr. Hilliard launched his professional career at the University of 
Denver, teaching at the College of Education and in Philosophy 
colloquium of the Centennial Scholars Honor Program. After moving with 
his family to California, Dr. Hilliard dedicated 18 years of his life 
to San Francisco State University. During this time, he served as 
Department Chair for two years, Dean of Education for eight years while 
also working as a consultant for the Peace Corps. Dr. Hilliard's 
influence and reach was truly global. As he mentored and taught 
students in the United States, he also made constant visits to Africa, 
serving as the Superintendent of Schools in Monrovia, Liberia for two 
years.
  Dr. Hilliard was a founding member of the association for the study 
of Classical African Civilization, serving as its first Vice President. 
He was co-developer of a popular educational television series Free 
Your Mind, Return to the Source: African Origins and produced many 
videotapes and educational materials on African-American History 
through his production company, Weset Education Productions. Dr. 
Hilliard was so groundbreaking and forward- thinking in his approach to 
education that several of his methods have become national models in 
the field.
  Dr. Hilliard was a purposeful man with an unquenchable passion for 
education and the preservation of his culture's history and traditions. 
Without reservation, Dr. Asa Hilliard significantly changed the world 
with his dedication to the preservation, study, and spiritual 
understanding of Africa, African Americans, and Africans in Diaspora 
throughout the world.
  One of my long standing desires was to travel to Egypt with Dr. 
Hilliard on one of his study tours. Each time I saw him I mentioned 
this and we both were very excited about the prospect. Due to my hectic 
schedule, this never happened. As God will have it, I was in Ghana, 
West Africa, at the Cape Coast Slave Castle when I learned from 
Reverend Jeremiah Wright through Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. that 
Asa had passed the day before in Egypt. Like many, I was devastated and 
saddened, yet thankful to his family and to God for his amazing life. I 
reflected upon his death in Egypt in a prayerful manner, and took pause 
to commemorate this great soul.
  His loving wife, Mrs. Patsy Jo Hilliard, has quoted Asa as repeatedly 
saying, ``It is not enough for us to be bright and competent. We must 
also have purpose and direction. It is not enough for us to `make it' 
on our own--to save ourselves. As Abena says in Armah's novel, Two 
Thousand Seasons, `There is no self to save without the rest of us.' '' 
In this way, Dr. Hilliard touched and influenced the lives of all who 
were privileged to come into contact with him.
  On behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, we salute and 
honor a great human being, our beloved Asa G. Hilliard III. We extend 
my deepest condolences to Asa's family, and our deepest gratitude to 
them for sharing this great spirit with us. May his soul rest in peace, 
and may we continue to benefit from the positive impact he left on the 
world.

                          ____________________