[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 120 (Monday, September 10, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

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                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 10, 2012

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th 
anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. On September 22, 1862 
President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation as of January 1, 1863 
all slaves residing in the states in rebellion against the Union would 
be forever free. President Lincoln's bold move changed our Nation for 
the better and is a defining moment in American history. In honor of 
this historic moment many organizations from coast to coast are hosting 
celebrations.
  In my district, radio station Classical KUSC, MusicUNTOLD and the 
Colburn Foundation are partnering together to support a 150th 
Anniversary Emancipation Proclamation concert. The concert program will 
consist of solo and duet performances interspersed with spoken texts 
describing the American journey from slavery to the election of 
President Barack Obama. The concert will be preceded by a lecture about 
the music and the Civil War era giving participants a historical 
context of the inspiring music following.
  Featured artists represent a wide range of styles and have appeared 
on the stages of great opera houses and concert halls worldwide. 
Artists include tenor George Shirley, baritone Donnie Ray Albert, 
soprano Latonia Moore, violinist Sanford Allen and Annelle Gregory, 
violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama, soprano Jammieca Mott, composer-pianist 
Richard Thompson and pianist Lukas Swidzinski, Polli Chambers-Salazar, 
and Althea Waites.
  In past years, John Malveaux, president of the Long Beach Central 
Arts Association and a longtime arts promoter who runs MusicUNTOLD and 
Classical KUSC radio station have presented an annual Juneteenth 
Concert in Long Beach. Promoting historical awareness through music has 
been a strong tradition of MusicUNTOLD and Classical KUSC radio 
stations. I commend their tireless work in the Long Beach community.
  Mr. Speaker, the Emancipation Proclamation established a moral 
strength that reverberates throughout American history. The 
Emancipation Proclamation was a milestone along the road to slavery's 
final destruction and has justly assumed its hallowed place among the 
great documents of human freedom.

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