[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 18 (Friday, February 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COMMEMORATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 3, 2012

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, throughout February we recognize the lives 
and events of black pioneers who have made our country a truer Nation 
of equality for all. Born in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance I am 
honored to come from and represent a congressional district that has 
such a rich black heritage. Through civic participation and urban 
culture Harlem has forever shaped our Nation's history. It has been 
home to intellectual luminaries such as Langston Hughes, W. E. B. 
DuBois, Booker T. Washington, and classic musical performers like Harry 
Belafonte, Billie Holiday, Marian Anderson, Lena Horne and Ella 
Fitzgerald. On the stage of the Apollo Theatre, legendary musicians 
like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington played their way into history. 
Spirited veterans like Tuskegee Airmen Lee Archer, Dabney Montgomery 
and Roscoe C. Brown, pilots during World War II, flew military aircraft 
with distinction.
  This year we especially honor black women who have been trailblazers 
and leaders in the fight for racial equality and women's rights. Their 
leadership, patriotism, and artistic expression have enhanced and 
inspired countless lives. From leader of the Underground Railroad, 
Harriet Tubman, to American poet and Revolutionary War patriot, Phillis 
Wheatley, journalist Ida B. Wells, the great educator and presidential 
advisor, Mary McLeod Bethune, and mother of the modern Civil Rights 
Movement, Rosa Parks--black women through protest and perseverance have 
stood as a symbol of strength and pride in the face of injustice.
  I must also acknowledge women like Dr. Muriel Petioni and Dr. Barbara 
Ann Tier, visionaries known for their service and unwavering commitment 
to the health of our community.
  I am a proud sponsor of the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal 
Act to honor the life and legacy of my dear colleague and first black 
woman elected to Congress in 1969. I am also a sponsor of resolutions 
in Congress honoring notable figures such as Madam CJ Walker, Ron 
Brown, Constance Baker Motley, Percy Sutton and Ray Charles.
  Black history month is a time to learn about the achievements and 
contributions of blacks in our great Nation's history. During February, 
many community organizations are combining their efforts to host 
several events and exhibits. I encourage all to participate. Let's show 
our gratitude for the great contributions that blacks have provided to 
create the freedoms and opportunities we have today in America.

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