[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 60 (Thursday, April 23, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E569]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN COMMEMORATION OF 1890S DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2015

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in proud recognition 
of 1890s Day, which commemorates an influential piece of legislation 
that took effect 125 years ago yet is still very relevant today.
  In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act into law 
with the intention of giving federal land grants to states so that they 
would in turn sell them to establish ``land-grant'' universities with 
the funds. Academically, these institutions were to specialize in 
fields such as agriculture, military strategy, and engineering, 
initiatives that would have a distinct impact on local economies and 
technological developments in years to come.
  Twenty-eight years later, the second Morrill Act of 1890 was enacted 
and we celebrate that moment today. It was significant because it 
specifically addressed the former Confederate States. In order to 
combat extensive racial discrimination faced by African Americans in 
the post-Civil War South, the Act required that States wishing to 
receive federal support must either omit entry restrictions based on 
skin color at their universities entirely, or else establish separate 
institutions specifically designed to accommodate African Americans. 
Many historically black colleges and universities came into existence 
as a result of this rule.
  Prior to the Civil War, there were few opportunities for African 
Americans to receive a higher education. Those African Americans who 
did receive such schooling studied at home or in informal settings. In 
fact, during the era of slavery, it had been a crime to instruct an 
African American in anything except the most rudimentary skills.
  Within the Second Congressional District of Georgia, one concrete 
outcome of this landmark legislation was the 1895 founding of Fort 
Valley High and Industrial School, which would later become Fort Valley 
State College and, finally, Fort Valley State University. This 
historically African-American institution remains Georgia's only 1890 
land-grant university.
  Proving itself over decades of scholastic distinction and educating 
thousands of students in the sciences as well as the arts, this 
renowned establishment is still alive and flourishing today. It was all 
made possible through that groundbreaking decision made more than a 
century ago. Since the 1890 Act directly addressed concerns of 
discrimination against African Americans, it has served to provide 
opportunities for all students, regardless of their race.
  Mr. Speaker, it is indeed my privilege to bring attention to this 
important day, and to recognize the changes the Morrill Act of 1890 has 
brought to our communities and to our nation. For it is through the 
diversity and the inspiration of our youth that we are able to grow as 
a society, in innovation and in hope. Let us celebrate these 
developments today and anticipate a bright future to come tomorrow.

                          ____________________