[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 121 (Friday, August 5, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING EUROPE'S BLACK POPULATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 5, 2011

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
resolution recognizing Europe's Black population and expressing 
solidarity with their struggle as we mark 2011 as the International 
Year for People of African Descent.
  Some years ago, on April 29, 2008, I chaired a U.S. Helsinki 
Commission hearing entitled, ``The State of (In)visible Black Europe: 
Race, Rights, and Politics'' which focused on the more than seven 
million people who make up Europe's Black or Afro-descendant 
population.
  Since that hearing, I have been calling for the recognition of Black 
Europeans, who, despite their numerous contributions to European 
society, like African-Americans, face the daily challenges of racism 
and discrimination. This includes being the targets of violent hate 
crimes and racial profiling, in addition to continuing inequalities in 
education, housing, employment, and in other sectors. Few Black 
Europeans are in leadership positions, and political participation is 
also limited for many, providing obstacles for addressing these 
problems.
  This resolution supports the 2011 International Year for People of 
African Descent goal to recognize and support the economic, political, 
cultural, and social inclusion of Black Europeans, including by urging 
European governments to develop and implement anti-discrimination 
legislation and other plans of action in cooperation with Black 
European communities.
  Given the lessons learned from our own civil rights struggle and 
continuing anti-discrimination and diversity efforts in Europe, the 
resolution also supports an increase in transatlantic cooperative 
efforts between U.S. and European governments, civil society, and the 
private sector to provide useful partnerships and assistance in 
combating racism and discrimination abroad and at home. Specifically, 
U.S. government support is requested to aid such efforts in line with 
U.S. support for human rights.
  I believe that cooperation is key to addressing the global problems 
of racism and discrimination. It is for this reason that, since 2009, I 
have worked in cooperation with minority and other European legislators 
to hold annual events in Brussels, Belgium at the European Parliament 
focused on addressing the situation of Blacks and other minorities, 
with a focus on increasing political participation. These events 
include the 2009 Black European Summit: Transatlantic Dialogue on 
Political Inclusion and the 2010 and 2011 Transatlantic Minority 
Political Leadership Conferences, where solutions, such as a U.S.-EU 
Joint Action Plan on Racial and Ethnic Equality and Inclusion have been 
discussed.
  As I continue to work on these initiatives, I urge my colleagues to 
join me in supporting this Resolution Recognizing Black Europeans 
during the International Year or People of African Descent. 
Additionally, I would like to submit the following background materials 
on Black Europeans for the official record.

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