[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 25 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S802-S803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 50--RECOGNIZING THE HISTORIC FOUNDING OF 
 THE BLACK STUNTMEN'S ASSOCIATION AND THE COALITION OF BLACK STUNTMEN 
                               AND WOMEN

  Mr. REID (for himself, Mr. Burris, Mrs. Boxer, and Mrs. Feinstein) 
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 50

       Whereas a group of African-American stuntmen, athletes, and 
     extras founded the Black Stuntmen's Association in Los 
     Angeles, California, in 1967 to combat racial discrimination 
     and create equal opportunities for all people of color in the 
     motion picture and television stunt industry;
       Whereas the Coalition of Black Stuntmen and Women was 
     formed in 1973 to continue the fight against racial bias in 
     the industry;
       Whereas motion picture and television productions at the 
     time commonly featured White stuntmen and women as stunt 
     doubles for African-American actors and those of other races, 
     using makeup to darken their complexion in a process known as 
     a ``paint-down'';
       Whereas African-Americans were routinely denied job 
     opportunities and formal training in the stunt industry due 
     to lingering racism;
       Whereas the increased use of African-American actors in 
     motion pictures and television in the 1960s brought more 
     attention to the common industry practice of using only White 
     stuntmen and women;
       Whereas the Black Stuntmen's Association and the Coalition 
     of Black Stuntmen and Women pursued legal action to bring 
     additional diversity to the motion picture and television 
     industry and continued to monitor compliance with the 
     resulting agreements;
       Whereas the original members of the Black Stuntmen's 
     Association and the Coalition of Black Stuntmen and Women 
     paved the way for greater racial equality in the motion 
     picture and television industry in the ensuing years, but in 
     many cases were unable to benefit from their hard-won 
     victory;
       Whereas the efforts of the Black Stuntmen's Association and 
     the Coalition of Black Stuntmen and Women also helped tear 
     down discriminatory barriers and prejudices in other parts of 
     the motion picture and television industry, both in front of 
     and behind the camera; and
       Whereas members of the Black Stuntmen's Association and the 
     Coalition of Black Stuntmen and Women have made a significant 
     and lasting contribution to the quality of motion picture and 
     television productions in the United States: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the historic founding of the Black 
     Stuntmen's Association and the Coalition of Black Stuntmen 
     and Women, and
       (2) honors the contributions of these organizations and 
     their members in the fight for racial equality and justice in 
     the motion picture and television industry.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge a group that has 
created opportunities for countless African American men and women in 
the film and television industry. I rise to submit this Senate 
Concurrent Resolution honoring the Black Stuntmen's Association and the 
Coalition of Black Stuntmen and Women for their efforts to not only 
integrate, but enhance the television and film industry. This is a 
companion resolution identical to H. Con. Res. 190 submitted by my good 
friend, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley.
  I take great pride in submitting this resolution not only because 
these individuals knocked down the walls of racial discrimination, but 
also because many of these pioneers now reside in my home State of 
Nevada.

[[Page S803]]

  In the 1950s and 1960s few African Americans had roles in television 
or film and rarely were given the opportunity to work as stuntmen and 
women. Most often, the few opportunities available to individuals 
willing to engage the dangerous work as stuntmen were taken by whites, 
who donned dark make-up to look like the black actors they were 
portraying.
  To overcome the barrier of racism and many other obstacles to the 
entertainment industry, in 1967 a group of courageous men and women 
formed the Black Stuntmen's Association. Even though many had to work 
other jobs, they took it upon themselves to train each other, often 
meeting three to four nights a week for several hours. They trained in 
parks, on beaches and just about anywhere they could set up equipment 
to practice tumbles and flips. They eventually progressed to 
disciplined training in automotives and driving techniques for cars and 
motorcycles.
  These individuals are pioneers and would later work with the 
Coalition of Black Stuntmen and Women to fight racism in the 
entertainment industry. Their collective efforts have created 
opportunities for many that once never existed.

       Eddie Smith; Earnie Robinson; Alex Brown; S.J. McGee; 
     Harold Jones; Calvin Brown; Doug Lawrence; Cliff Strong; 
     Alonzo Brown; Willie Harris; Joe Tilque; Henry Kingi; Marvin 
     Walters; Richard Washington; Jolly Brown; Greg Elam; William 
     Upton; Wayne King, Sr.; Len Glascow; Evelyn Cuffee; Jade 
     David; Sharon Schaffer; Kym Washington; Louise Johnson; Toni 
     Vaz; Dewitt Fonder; John Mitchell; Henry Graddy; Darell 
     Giddens; Tony Brubaker; Bob Minor; Jophery Brown; Bennie 
     Moore; Allen Oliney; John Sherrod.

  While erasing the stains for racism is a never-ending task, I commend 
the Black Stuntmen's Association and the Coalition of Black Stuntmen 
and Women for their work on behalf of the entertainment industry and 
our nation.
  I hope my colleagues will join me and honoring them and cosponsor 
this resolution.

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