[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 131 (Monday, September 15, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S5583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO FRANKIE MUSE FREEMAN

  Mrs. McCASKILL. Mr President, I wish to recognize a noble Missourian, 
the spirited and courageous Mrs. Frankie Muse Freeman. Fifty years ago 
today, this body confirmed Mrs. Freeman as President Lyndon B. 
Johnson's choice to be the first female Commissioner to serve on the 
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. She served honorably in this capacity 
for 16 years, having been reappointed by Presidents Richard Nixon, 
Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.
  By the time President Johnson first nominated Mrs. Freeman to the 
Civil Rights Commission, she had worked tirelessly to end racial 
discrimination and secure equality, justice and fairness for every 
citizen. Born Marie Frankie Muse on November 24, 1916 in Danville, VA 
to parents who experienced the benefits of formal education and who in 
turn supported their daughter's educational pursuits, Frankie was 
educated in Virginia and attended college at the distinguished and 
well-known historically black college Hampton University. Almost 10 
years after she started college, Frankie began her law school career at 
Howard University School of Law, where she graduated second in her 
class. Soon afterward, Frankie settled in St. Louis, MO, and began her 
successful career as a civil rights attorney. She worked on a variety 
of important civil rights issues ranging from education to hiring 
practices. Most notably in 1954, Frankie argued and won the fight 
against racial discrimination in public housing in the landmark NAACP 
case Davis et al. v. St. Louis Housing Authority. The following year, 
Frankie became the first associate general counsel of the St. Louis 
Housing Authority and Land Clearance Authority. Three years later in 
1958, she joined the Missouri advisory committee to the U.S. Commission 
on Civil Rights. The quality and breadth of her work combined with her 
passion for advocacy eventually led to her selection as a U.S. Civil 
Rights commissioner.
  In the five decades since her historic appointment, Frankie's energy 
and devotion to justice has not diminished. She has received 
appointments from former Presidents to serve on other service-related 
commissions. In addition, she worked as a municipal court judge for 
many years and was instrumental in the formation of the Citizens 
Commission on Civil Rights, an organization that seeks to ensure the 
Federal Government's vigilance in its enforcement of anti-
discrimination laws. In addition to this public service, Frankie wrote 
a book about her storied life and career. Just 6 years ago at the age 
of 92, she retired after spending the latter part of her career in 
private practice. Not surprisingly, even retirement has not slowed 
Frankie down. She remains active on a number of urban and community 
service-based social welfare boards.
  To countless residents of my State and across the country, Frankie 
Muse Freeman is a hero. She is a woman who grew up in Jim Crow-era 
South when racial segregation was legal. Growing up, if Frankie wanted 
to go somewhere, her options were to either walk or take the segregated 
streetcar. She witnessed first hand the harsh consequences of racial 
inequality and she chose to devote her entire career to ending that 
injustice. Frankie is an inspiration to so many Americans, across all 
racial lines, and to me personally. She is a public servant whom my 
children and grandchildren can look up to. Because of leaders like her, 
who fought and sacrificed but ultimately believed in our country's 
ability to empathize and change, we are all better off and our lives 
more enriched.
  Therefore, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mrs. Frankie 
Muse Freeman on the 50th anniversary of her Senate confirmation to the 
United States Commission on Civil Rights. In addition, I ask my 
colleagues to recognize Frankie's distinguished service to the people 
of this country.

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