[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 59 (Monday, April 26, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2865-H2868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING TWO TRAILBLAZERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Chu). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 6, 2009, the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands 
(Mrs. Christensen) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the 
majority leader.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, now that our colleagues on the other 
side of the aisle have completed their hour of speaking of how that 
long-needed, hard-fought for health insurance and preventive services 
for those who have had little or no access to health care ought to be 
taken away, praising the AGs, as they were, who are challenging the law 
through which we Democrats provided the opportunity to every American 
for health and wellness, we are now going to turn to remembering two 
individuals who all of their lives worked to ensure that access to 
health, education, and economic opportunity was available for all.
  Some of my colleagues spoke of the life and legacy of Dr. Dorothy 
Irene Height last week when Congresswoman Fudge's resolution was on the 
floor, but the Congressional Black Caucus wanted to use this time this 
evening to continue that tribute and also pay tribute to Dr. Benjamin 
Hooks. I consider it a great honor and pleasure to anchor this hour of 
tribute to two of our Nation's trailblazers, two drum majors for 
justice, to incomparable human beings whom we mourn because they are no 
longer physically with us, but who will forever be with us in spirit 
and through the rich legacy that they both have left.

  Individually, as communities of color and as a Nation, we are far 
better because they passed this way and touched our lives during their 
earthly journeys. The people I am speaking of are Dr. Benjamin Hooks 
and Dr. Dorothy I. Height.
  On Dr. Hooks, although I had the honor of meeting him, I didn't get 
to know Dr. Benjamin Hooks personally. But everyone knows or ought to 
know of the little old country creature that he referred to himself as, 
but which surely grossly understated the measure of this luminary of 
civil rights and champion for a better America.
  A native Tennessean, civil rights leader, Baptist minister, attorney 
and judge, in fact, the first black judge to serve in that position in 
Tennessee and in all of the South after reconstruction, he, like Dr. 
Height, has made an immeasurable contribution to this country that will 
continue to reverberate for generations to come.
  His life experiences in high school, and particularly in World War 
II, and his conquering of them all, I think is what served to fuel his 
passion and his determination to ensure equality and justice for 
everyone in this country regardless of race, color, religion, creed or 
nationality.
  In a different and less strident partisan time, he was appointed to 
the FCC, the first African American commissioner, by President Richard 
Nixon, as was my father to the Federal district court in the Virgin 
Islands.
  That Congressmen Rush, Butterfield, and I must continue to raise the 
same issues today that he championed: the need for more minority 
ownership of radio and TV stations, for more diversity in employees in 
the industry, as well as for more positive image of African Americans 
in the media, is not at all reflective of the cogency of his argument 
or the determination of his effort, but more of the depth and 
intransigence of the institutional racism that continues to exist in 
this country.
  An unrelenting supporter and advocate for self-help, he revived the 
NAACP during his legendary tenure of 20 years, while furthering and 
strengthening its missions, goals and ideals. He, like Dr. Dorothy 
Height, is the recipient of both the President's Medal of Freedom and 
the Congressional Gold Medal.
  It is not enough that the University of Memphis works to carry on his 
league see through the Benjamin Hooks Institute for Social Change, it 
is up to those of us on whose behalf he served to live his life and 
these words of his: ``If anyone thinks we are going to stop agitating, 
they better think again. If anyone thinks we are going to stop 
litigating, they had better close up the courts. If anyone thinks we 
are not going to demonstrate and protest, they had better roll up the 
sidewalks.''
  The Congressional Black Caucus, through our positions, our advocacy, 
and our legislative efforts here in Congress, live those words every 
day and

[[Page H2866]]

are proud to join the NAACP in taking up the torch he has passed to us 
with pride.

                              {time}  2100

  Let me say a few words about Dr. Height. This country is indebted to 
her for so many rights and privileges that we enjoy today, from her 
work opening doors at YMCAs, to her empowering of communities in 
Mississippi and elsewhere, to her leadership in the struggles for 
women's rights and civil rights, her uplifting of the African American 
families through the Annual Family Reunions, her enrichment and 
advancement of the National Council of Negro Women, and all of the many 
ways she helped shape policy and found ways to address old and new ills 
in our community. There is not anyone who has not benefited from her 
life of service.
  I want to spend my time, though, talking about the times and ways in 
which I was privileged to play what was but an infinitesimal part in 
her work. First, it was always an honor to be in her presence. But in 
addition to the invitations, the receptions, meetings, social 
activities, she also pulled me into her work with young women and 
health. I was able to be part of her efforts on HIV and AIDS. I had the 
opportunity to address her town halls, most recently a little over a 
year ago, a town hall on preventing obesity and lead poisoning in 
children in black and other poor communities.
  And I got to be a part of her planning and developing the 12 or so 
sites for her anti-obesity programs across the United States. She 
always made sure that my district, and she did in this case, the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, was a part of it.
  But it wasn't always just the big national issues. She understood the 
demands of leadership, especially on black women. And so she brought us 
together to counsel, support, and encourage us from time to time.
  It's hard to put in words the deep pride and yet the humble gratitude 
that I had the opportunity in some small way to get to know Dr. Height, 
to be one of her countless mentees, to be even a small part of her 
efforts that I was in recent years. To have had her smile on me was a 
great blessing that will stay with me and continue to encourage me and 
guide me as long as I live.
  In a few minutes I am going to yield to some of my colleagues and our 
chairwoman, Barbara Lee. I want to just read a couple of quotes here, 
first on Dr. Hooks. This is a quote from President Bush, who bestowed 
on him the Presidential Medal of Freedom: ``For 15 years, Dr. Hooks was 
a calm, yet forceful voice for fairness, opportunity, and personal 
responsibility. He never tired or faltered in demanding that our Nation 
live up to its founding ideals of liberty and equality.''
  Julian Bond, the chairman emeritus of the NAACP, praised Dr. Hooks at 
the time as well, saying: ``Benjamin Hooks had a stellar career--civil 
rights advocate and leader, minister, businessman, public servant--
there are few who are his equal,'' Bond said.
  And another quote on Dr. Benjamin Hooks from the president and CEO of 
the Joint Center on Economic and Political Studies, Dr. Ralph B. 
Everett. And he said: ``Throughout his life and career, the Reverend 
Dr. Hooks never flinched in the face of enormous challenges, and his 
expansive dreams were always grounded in the concerns and aspirations 
of the least fortunate. As we carry on the work of building a better 
and more inclusive society that affords opportunity to all, we all have 
Dr. Benjamin Hooks' shining example to keep us on the right path.''
  Dr. Marian Wright Edelman wrote of Dr. Height on her passing. She 
started with a quote from Dr. Dorothy Height which reads: ``We African 
American women seldom do just what we want to do, but always what we 
have to do. I am grateful to have been in a time and place where I 
could be a part of what was needed.'' And we are really grateful that 
she was in a time and a place where she was needed. Dr. Edelman says, 
and I quote again: ``When she passed away on April 20 at age 98, we all 
lost a treasure, a wise counselor, and a rock we could always lean 
against for support in tough times.''
  At this time I am joined by the chairwoman of the Congressional Black 
Caucus, Congresswoman Barbara Lee. And I would like to yield her such 
time as she might consume as she joins me in these tributes.
  Ms. LEE of California. Thank you very much. Let me thank the 
gentlelady from the Virgin Islands for that very moving tribute and for 
anchoring the Congressional Black Caucus's Special Order tonight.
  Madam Speaker, this month our Nation and the world lost two towering 
giants in the pursuit of freedom and justice for all, Dr. Dorothy Irene 
Height and Dr. Benjamin Hooks. Both lived long and fruitful lives and 
leave legacies that will endure for generations to come. Tonight we pay 
tribute to Dr. Hooks and Dr. Height, two trailblazers, two giants who 
paved the way and opened the doors of opportunity for countless numbers 
of Americans.
  This week Dr. Height will be laid to rest, and she will be forever 
remembered as a bold and brilliant African American woman who blazed 
many trails and opened many doors so that we all could lead freer and 
more prosperous lives. A matriarch of the civil rights movement and a 
staunch advocate of women's rights, Dr. Height wore many hats 
throughout her life, both literally and figuratively, with elegance and 
with dignity, with excellence and with determination. I am going to 
miss her so much. She showed us that the fight for women's rights and 
our struggle for civil and human rights were not mutually exclusive. 
She was a coalition builder in our work for justice for all.

  A couple of months ago, as I was listening to Congresswoman 
Christensen's remarks about her personal involvement with Dr. Height 
and how she grew to love her, I myself had many, many experiences that 
brought me very close to Dr. Height. And I can remember one of the last 
times that we were together. She called and she insisted that I 
participate, and this was a couple of months ago, in the National 
Council of Negro Women's annual conference in Maryland. And of course, 
as Dr. Christensen knows, when Dr. Height calls, you answer because you 
know it's important. There is no way you say no.
  But Dr. Height, she knows the schedule here on the Hill because she 
was constantly here helping us with our outside strategy to move the 
Congressional Black Caucus's agenda forward. Well, she called and she 
said she knew how busy I was, she said, but just come out to Maryland 
for the breakfast. I said, Okay, Dr. Height, I will be there. Well, I 
got there early, it may have been like 7 o'clock, 7:15, dragging. But 
there she was in her beautiful hat, sitting at the head table to greet 
me.
  And being with Dr. Height, I tell you, that day I realized that I was 
in the presence of greatness. And I know, as with all of us, especially 
the women of the Congressional Black Caucus, whenever she introduced us 
it was amazing, because she knew so much about each of us and she 
humbled us by the things that she would say about us. And we would 
wonder how could this great woman say these nice things about us. I 
mean, you know, we look up to her as a legendary shero, but yet she 
always, always lifted us up and made us feel like we may be part of 
her.
  From her legendary stewardship as the national president of Delta 
Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., to her unprecedented 41-year tenure at the 
helm of the National Council of Negro Women, Dr. Height, she was a 
woman of courage and strength. Her commitment to equality was reflected 
in so many of her pursuits--in fact, in all of her pursuits.
  In the 1930s, for example, Dr. Height traveled across the United 
States to encourage the YWCA chapters to implement interracial 
chapters. After dedicating more than 60 years of her life to the YWCA, 
Dr. Height remained proudest of her efforts to direct the Y's attention 
to the issues of civil rights and racial justice. She was so committed 
to this work. In fact, the Y named Dr. Height the first director of its 
new Center for Racial Justice in 1965.

                              {time}  2110

  Imagine, in the thirties, this African American woman who put up a 
one-woman resistance movement to the segregation of the Y--and she won. 
One person made that difference in the thirties.
  As a leader of the United Christian Youth Movement of North America,

[[Page H2867]]

Dr. Height worked to desegregate the Armed Forces to stop lynching. 
Yes, she knew lynching very well in her day. Not too many years ago 
this country has that stain which we still have to remind ourselves of. 
She worked to stop lynching, to reform the criminal justice system and 
to establish free access to public accommodations at a time when racial 
segregation was the standard, mind you--and I know Dr. Christensen 
remembers that. I remember that very well. That was the standard. 
Resistance to integration was often fierce. Dr. Height remained forever 
vigilant. She remained true to her convictions. Even when it was not 
the comfortable thing to do.
  A lifelong advocate for peace and equality, Dr. Height was especially 
committed to empowering women and girls. She stood toe to toe with our 
great male civil rights leaders. Oftentimes, she was the only woman in 
the room, the only woman on the platform. She was steadfast in her 
dedication to ensure that black women's issues and concerns were 
addressed. She was forever dedicated to helping women achieve full and 
equal employment, pay, and education.
  Dr. Height was an internationalist. Before many of us began our work 
on the continent of Africa or in the Caribbean, Dr. Height, as the 
President of the National Council of Negro Women, had chapters, and she 
did work in the villages in Africa--work that was visionary, work that 
touched the lives of so many women, children, and families. She knew 
that she was a citizen of the world and that she had to work both 
domestically here in our own country and internationally if, in fact, 
she were going to be a leader in our global movement. She is an 
internationally renowned woman.
  Dr. Height led the NCNW, helping women and families combat hunger. 
She also established the Women's Center for Education and Career 
Advancement, in New York City, to prepare women for entry-level jobs. 
During her tenure as the President of the NCNW, they were able to buy a 
beautiful building right up the street, near the Capitol. It's a site 
where slave traders legally operated what was know as the Center Slave 
Market. To this day, it is the only African American-owned building on 
this corridor, proving that she was not only a great leader but an 
astute businesswoman as well. I'll never forget the evening of the 
fundraiser where she was able to raise the money to retire the debt, to 
burn the mortgage.
  I mean Dr. Height was an unbelievably clear woman in terms of 
financial stability and economic security for the organizations that 
she was a part of, and now we have a building on Pennsylvania Avenue--
again, the site of the Center Slave Market. We heard her tell the story 
of how she found this building which was on that site, and we heard the 
story about that site, which is too long to talk about tonight, but 
there is a wonderful story about that. How she ended up purchasing a 
building on that site was, really, I think, the hand of God. Dr. Height 
remained a fighter until her last breath.
  During my time here in Congress, especially as chair of the 
Congressional Black Caucus, I always knew that I could call on Dr. 
Height and that she would be there to support our efforts. Of course, 
last year, she attended President Barack Obama's first signing of a 
bill into law at the White House, the Lilly Ledbetter Act. She was 
present for the unveiling of the Shirley Chisholm portrait and for the 
bust of Sojourner Truth here in the Capitol. She worked diligently on 
various issues with the Black Women's Roundtable and the Black 
Leadership Forum, and she often participated in panels here on Capitol 
Hill.
  Just recently, she joined our efforts to support the 2010 census. She 
was here in the Rayburn building, you know, helping us organize, giving 
us the message, speaking to young people, and just saying that we have 
to make sure that everyone is counted because, if everyone is not 
counted, they will be counted out. She knew what she was talking about.
  We listened to Dr. Height. Many times, we attended many of her 
fundraisers, and I believe they are uncommon heights. Oftentimes, Dr. 
Height would talk, maybe, for 20 minutes, for 30 minutes, for 40 
minutes, for 45 minutes. The older she got, the more she wanted to tell 
her story. Even with her talking about so much, people did not get 
antsy and did not want to leave. They wanted to listen to this great 
woman who knew Mary McLeod Bethune and Eleanor Roosevelt. We were 
mesmerized every time we were in her presence, and we wanted to listen. 
We did not want to leave.
  Her passion was really an inspiration to all of us here in Congress. 
It's hard to imagine that, in the thirties, she provided this 
resistance movement. I will tell you that we love her, that we 
celebrate her life--and we do. We mourn her death.

  Last week, an individual who I was privileged to meet and to know, 
Dr. Benjamin Hooks, was laid to rest. He was born on January 31, 1925, 
in Memphis, Tennessee. He was the fifth of seven children. In life, he 
was a civil rights leader, a minister, an attorney, and forever a 
champion of minorities and the poor. He was a man of all seasons. While 
studying prelaw at LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, Dr. Hooks became 
acutely aware of the realities of racial segregation.
  In an interview with U.S. News and World Report, he once recounted 
and said, I wish I could tell you every time I was on the highway and 
couldn't use a restroom. My bladder is messed up because of that. My 
stomach is messed up from eating cold sandwiches.
  So, after graduating from law school at DePaul University, Dr. Hooks 
returned to his native Memphis where he earned a local reputation as 
one of the few African American lawyers in town. Thoroughly committed 
to breaking down the practices of racial segregation which existed in 
the United States, Dr. Hooks fought prejudice at every single turn.
  He said, At the time, you were insulted by law clerks, excluded from 
white bar associations, and when I was in court, I was lucky to be 
called ``Ben.'' He recalled this in an interview with Jet Magazine, 
Usually, it was just ``boy.'' Yet he said the judges were always fair. 
The discrimination of those days has changed, and today, the South is 
ahead of the North in many respects in civil rights progress, he said--
an ordained Baptist minister, and he could preach.
  Dr. Hooks joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, SCLC, 
and he became a pioneer in the NAACP's sponsored restaurant sit-ins and 
other boycotts of consumer items and services. Dr. Hooks was the first 
African American Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, 
a board member of the SCLC, and the first African American criminal 
court judge in Tennessee history. Twice a month, he flew to Detroit to 
preach at the Greater New Mount Moriah Baptist Church. Dr. Hooks was a 
true public servant who committed his life to empowering communities of 
color.
  As the executive director of the NAACP from 1977 to 1992, Dr. Hooks 
increased the NAACP's membership by several hundred thousand people and 
raised critical funds for the association. He was instrumental in 
establishing a program in which 200 corporations agreed to participate 
in economic development projects in black communities.
  In 1986, the NAACP recognized Dr. Hooks for his lifetime commitment 
to civil rights by awarding him the Spingarn award, the NAACP's highest 
honor. He also rightfully received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 
What a man. What a man. He is going to be missed. We miss him already, 
and I know, though, that the NAACP has taken up Dr. Hooks' mantle and 
has mounted a very, very active, focused, and committed campaign to the 
principles and to the work of Dr. Benjamin Hooks.
  So, with the passing of Dr. Height and Dr. Hooks, our Nation mourns 
the loss of true national treasures. Dr. Height's leadership in the 
struggle for equality and human rights and women's rights serves as an 
inspiration to all. Dr. Hooks will be remembered as a man who 
ceaselessly demanded that America live up to its founding principle of 
justice, equality, and liberty. They will be truly missed.
  So, in the memory of Dr. Height and Dr. Hooks, it is the duty, I 
think, of all Americans to pick up and to carry this baton of freedom 
and justice. The world is a better place for everyone because Dr. Hooks 
and Dr. Height lived their lives according to really what

[[Page H2868]]

they believed that God put them on this Earth to do. I think we all 
have a responsibility to keep their legacies alive.

                              {time}  2120

  Congressman Christensen knows, and every Member of this House knows 
this is a very intense, busy, hard job. We work here day and night. We 
go to our districts day and night. And whenever we get weary or think 
that we can't go any further, I am reminded of Dr. Height and Dr. 
Hooks, who exemplified the words of a gospel song that many of us sing 
oftentimes in church on Sunday. These words: I ain't no way tired. I've 
come too far from where I started from. Nobody told me that the road 
would be easy, but I know he didn't bring me this far to leave me.
  Even when the road was very difficult, and it was very difficult for 
these two great human beings, they kept going. They didn't get tired. 
They kept going because they knew their purpose and they knew that one 
day they would rest in peace. That day has come. But their spirit will 
live forever in the work of the Congressional Black Caucus and in the 
work of all of those that they touch. May they rest in peace.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congresswoman Lee, and thank you for 
your leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus. And we know that 
under your leadership we will take up the mantle, take up the torch 
that they have left for us and carry on their legacy.
  I would like to say to Mrs. Frances Hooks, who is always at her 
husband's side, his right hand and probably his left hand too, you were 
an integral part of all that your husband accomplished, and we thank 
you too for your contributions. On behalf of the Congressional Black 
Caucus and on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands, we extend 
condolences to you and the family. We in the Virgin Islands have also 
benefited by the work of Dr. Hooks.
  And to Dr. Height's sister Anthanette Height Aldridge, and her 
family, to the council, to the Delta Sisterhood, and especially to two 
outstanding women who I consider to be Dr. Height's daughters, the 
Honorable Alexis Herman and the Reverend Barbara Williams Skinner, we 
extend condolences on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus again 
and on behalf of my Virgin Islands family and the gratitude of all us 
for allowing and welcoming us into the life of Dr. Dorothy Irene 
Height.
  As many people have said, both Dr. Hooks and Dr. Height leave big and 
awesome shoes to fill, but their lives continue to speak to us and what 
they are saying, what I hear them saying, is step right into those 
shoes, fill them any way you can, and keep marching on until victory is 
won.

                          ____________________