[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 130 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S3748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      NICODEMUS, KANSAS, 145TH HOMECOMING EMANCIPATION CELEBRATION

 Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, this weekend, in the town of 
Nicodemus in western Kansas, folks from all over will gather to 
celebrate and commemorate the history of this town. This year they will 
celebrate the 145th Homecoming Emancipation Celebration.
  Nicodemus holds a unique place in American history. In 1877, newly 
freed slaves migrated West determined to create a community where 
freedom and equality could flourish. Out of the resolve of those early 
settlers emerged Nicodemus. Nicodemus was the first Black community 
west of the Mississippi River and is the only predominantly Black 
community west of the Mississippi that remains a living community 
today. Far from other towns or the railroad, life in Nicodemus wasn't 
easy, but the early settlers were determined to build a life for 
themselves--farms, homes, and a community that was their own.
  The Homecoming Emancipation Celebration serves as a poignant reminder 
of the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation, a proclamation 
that shattered the shackles of slavery and ignited the spark of hope 
and liberty across the Nation. Throughout the years, the Homecoming 
Emancipation Celebration has been a time of reflection, remembrance, 
and unity. Families gather to pay homage to their ancestors and cherish 
the sacrifices made by those who sought a new life and new 
opportunities.
  The celebration this weekend is a time for grandparents to pass down 
stories and memories to the younger generations, ensuring that the 
legacy of Nicodemus lives on in the hearts and minds of all. I hope 
that this celebration is a chance to remember the history of Nicodemus 
and celebrate the men and women who bravely made the journey west to 
find a place of their own.
  I hope anyone passing through western Kansas will take time to visit 
Nicodemus to learn the history of this brave little town on the plains 
of Kansas.

                          ____________________