[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 27, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   REMEMBERING DR. CARTER G. WOODSON

 Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Dr. Carter 
G. Woodson, a distinguished African-American civil rights activist, 
author, editor, publisher, and historian who left a remarkable legacy 
across the Nation and in my home State of West Virginia.
  Dr. Woodson was born in New Canton, Buckingham County, VA, in 1875 to 
former slaves Anne Eliza and James Henry Woodson. Taking care of the 
family farm often took priority over his education; nevertheless, his 
thirst for knowledge drove him forward during the course of his life. 
He was a very bright student when he was able to attend school. Despite 
being taught theories of African-American inferiority of that time 
period, his well-grounded beliefs, credited to his father, kept his 
spirits high and only added fuel to the influence he would one day 
share with the world.
  James and Anne Eliza first moved into the region on the Ohio River 
that became Huntington, WV, in 1870. There, James Woodson worked with 
many other former slaves to complete the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. 
Dr. Woodson and his older brother Robert Henry Woodson then delayed 
their move and took jobs working in the West Virginia coalfields of 
Fayette County. Here, Dr. Woodson, who had not yet attended high 
school, often read to his fellow coal miners who were illiterate, as he 
had been doing for his illiterate father. The collection of books and 
newspapers he accumulated for this task broadened his horizons about 
the world.
  Ambitious for more education, the largely self-taught Dr. Woodson 
enrolled in 1895 at Douglas High School and received a diploma in less 
than 2 years. He began his teaching career in 1897 in Fayette County 
and would later return to Huntington to become the principal of Douglas 
High School. In the years to come, he continued to travel across the 
United States and throughout Europe and Asia. He received degrees in 
history from the University of Chicago and Harvard University. He 
became the second African American to earn a Ph.D. at Harvard.
  Countless individuals inspired this great man. Whether citing a 
speech from Booker T. Washington or a friendship with a fellow coal 
miner, it is clear that Dr. Woodson saw education as the great 
equalizer. He could see beyond what he considered ``miseducation'' as a 
way to continually improve both the education of others and of 
himself--and ultimately generations of students of all races. He had 
fierce opinions and was unafraid to challenge what was then considered 
as ``known'' information.
  Dr. Woodson continued to travel in later years, lecturing to various 
African-American organizations and institutions. In 1921, he created 
the Associated Publishers, which was dedicated to issuing books by 
African-American authors. In 1926, he orchestrated Negro History Week, 
held in connection with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick 
Douglass and later extended to African-American History Month. 
Libraries and schools have been named in honor of this brilliant man--a 
testament to his commitment of embracing our knowledge of the history 
that shaped this great Nation. Particularly now, as we celebrate 
African-American History Month, it is fitting that we should honor such 
a man as Dr. Woodson. He has inspired countless leaders to fearlessly 
challenge what they believe is unjust and to inspire others to do the 
same. His legacy is one of constantly striving to better oneself and 
truly sets the standard for all leaders who have followed and will 
continue to follow in his footsteps.

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