[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.
____________________