[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 61 (Thursday, April 8, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E351-E352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN RECOGNITION OF ELVIS ``SONNY'' GIBSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 8, 2021

  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize and 
celebrate a passionate historian, dedicated public servant, and deeply 
valued member of the Kansas City community, Mr. Elvis ``Sonny'' Gibson. 
Though Mr. Gibson retired from a career with the federal government in 
1989, his work to make our world a more equitable and just place has 
never stopped. To this day, Sonny continues to give back to his 
community, contribute to the Black cultural history of Kansas City, and 
bend the American historical record as a whole towards truth and 
justice. Because of Mr. Gibson's outstanding work and tireless 
commitment, voices once silenced have been heard, people once forgotten 
have been remembered, and stories once lost have been told.
  After moving to Kansas City with his family in 1947, Sonny attended 
R. T. Coles High School, one of only two high schools for Black 
students in Kansas City at the time. He then went on to work as Branch 
Chief of Fair Housing within the United States Department of Housing of 
Urban Development. In that role, Sonny proved himself to be adept at 
navigating the bureaucracy to find solutions for those who needed it 
most. After a career that lasted over twenty-nine years, Sonny retired, 
but his work was far from over.
  Writing his first book in 1988, Sonny quickly began a second career 
dedicated to telling the stories of the previously unrecognized and 
acknowledging the work of Black Kansas Citians throughout history. It 
was, and continues to be, a labor of love for Sonny--one that has 
propelled him to produce six books and spend innumerable hours 
researching and collecting reliable historical accounts. The articles 
and announcements Sonny discovered and shared with the world had often 
been left out of traditional historical sources. Not only was Sonny 
resolved to bringing them to light, he also went about the monumental 
task of arranging them in chronological order and having them 
reproduced in the exact way he encountered them. His attention to 
detail and high historiographical standards are a reflection of the 
importance of Sonny's work and his passion for doing it justice. Front 
of mind for Sonny has always been the impact these historical artifacts 
will have on his readers. These small glimpses of history help us 
understand who we are as a nation as much as, if not more than, any 
broad volume. For example, in his most recent book, 1865--A Kansas City 
Negro History, Sonny writes about a place that is especially near and 
dear to my heart: Kansas City's 18th and Vine district. Through his 
writing, he is able to take readers back in time to highlight the 
entertainers, politicians, and business leaders who built the historic 
area. Sonny has an exceptional talent and ability to help his readers 
view history through the eyes of those who lived it--people not so 
different than the readers themselves.
  As I think about Sonny's wisdom and passion, one specific instance 
comes to mind. Sonny was telling an audience about being posed the 
question ``Why are you always wondering about what Black people did way 
back when?'' Sonny said, ``To understand the struggle, to understand 
that there are people in this country and in this city, who have come 
through an ocean of blood and tears, to get where we are today.'' 
Fueled by his unwavering mission to understand the struggles of those 
who have come before him, Sonny has not only deepened his own 
understanding of our city's rich Black history. He has also given the 
gift of that knowledge to his community, to his country, and to future 
generations.
  In addition to his work as an author, Sonny also dedicates a great 
deal of time to giving

[[Page E352]]

back to his community. He has served on numerous boards and societies, 
including the National Board of Directors for the National Black United 
Fund. He has held the position of Resident Scholar for the Black 
Archives of Mid America, Inc., and he has worked as the Historian in 
Resident for the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center. Sonny sets a true 
example of the qualities we should look for in all public servants: 
dedication, perseverance, and a deep, generous love for his community.
  Sonny's unwavering devotion and tireless commitment has made a 
profound impact on the Kansas City community, so I am truly privileged 
to be able to recognize Sonny's efforts today. Madam Speaker, please 
join me and Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in celebrating Mr. 
Elvis ``Sonny'' Gibson. Our history is how we understand ourselves, and 
every day, Sonny helps us understand ourselves a bit better. Let us all 
seek to emulate his example by dedicating ourselves to service, 
dismantling injustice in all its forms, and affirming that the American 
story is incomplete so long as so many American stories are left off 
its pages. Let us continue to add new pages, so that we may be able to 
make history by writing it down.

                          ____________________