[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 30 (Thursday, February 15, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Mrs. Beatty) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, as we celebrate Black History Month, we 
must embrace that Black History Month and Black history is American 
history. When we embrace Black history as American history, we tap into 
a wellspring of intellect, perspective, and capacity.
  Individually, we shine, but collectively, we radiate brilliance and 
effect change in our Nation and around the world--change as doctors, 
lawyers, engineers, teachers, artists, sports folks, Members of 
Congress, moms, and more.
  I honor Harriet Tubman, the first woman to lead an armed Civil War 
expedition, freeing over 700 South Carolinians. Today at noon, I 
celebrate the Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coin Act in honor of her 
200th birthday, authored by Congressman  Greg Meeks. However, Madam 
Speaker, this is just the first step. I will continue to fight for 
Tubman on the $20 bill.
  As we strive to make Black history a required part of American 
history, we must first recognize the trailblazers.
  I celebrate Rosa Parks, who resisted on the day of December 1 on that 
bus and who paved the way for integrated public transportation. Rosa 
Parks sat down on that bus so I can stand in the Halls of Congress 
today.
  Rosa Parks, the mother of the civil rights movement, was awarded a 
Congressional Gold Medal for her bravery. I am proud that I authored 
the first Rosa Parks Day in the Nation in Ohio on December 1.
  I celebrate my lifelong friend and mentor, Lieutenant Colonel Charity 
Adams Earley, the first African-American woman officer in the Women's 
Army Auxiliary Corps. The top-ranking Black woman officer, Lieutenant 
Colonel Charity Adams Earley, battled segregation in the United States 
Army, laying the groundwork for today's integrated military. As a 
member of the Six Triple Eight Battalion, she posthumously received the 
Congressional Gold Medal.
  I honor Dr. Dolly Desselle Adams, a trailblazer, activist, community 
leader, a dear friend and mentor who passed away 6 days ago, a legend 
in the Episcopal Church as a supervisor, a 60-year member of The Links, 
Incorporated, and the eighth national president.
  As a young member of The Links, Incorporated, the iconic Dolly Adams 
held my hand and said: I am paving the way for you to go make a 
difference.
  She was granted the Order of the Palmetto, the State's highest honor. 
Dolly Adams is Black history.
  I celebrate Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman and the 
first Black person to be Vice President of these United States of 
America. She speaks to America and the world with a strong voice of 
protecting our democracy and fighting for equality and justice to save 
the soul of this Nation, always putting people over politics.
  Madam Speaker, as we stand here today, I am honored to be able to 
come today to salute so many Black Americans. I celebrate Supreme Court 
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, appointed by President Biden, the first 
Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. I had the distinct 
pleasure of testifying as a witness at her confirmation hearing in 
2022. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is Black history, 
American history.
  Finally, I celebrate Amanda Gorman, the youngest poet at a 
Presidential inauguration. Her story inspires youth worldwide to choose 
democracy's brilliance over the hopelessness of autocracy. Amanda 
Gorman is American history. Let us not have her books banned by this 
Congress or anyone else but be read by all of our schoolchildren.
  These historic roles, Madam Speaker, celebrate our Nation's progress 
and compel us to leverage talent across race and gender for national 
prosperity. Celebrating Black history as American history allows us to 
celebrate our Nation's shared brilliance, strength, wisdom, and power.
  Madam Speaker, I close by saying, for this reason, I ask my 
colleagues to support H.R. 703, the Black History is American History 
Act.

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