[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 172 (Friday, October 17, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING MR. DENZEL WASHINGTON: NO ROLE TOO BIG

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KWEISI MFUME

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 17, 2025

  Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an esteemed artist who 
truly needs no introduction: actor, producer, and director, Denzel 
Washington. The two-time Oscar winner and Tony Award recipient has 
carved a path for actors and performers who seek to dedicate their 
lives to the pursuit of artistic accomplishment.
  Born in Mount Vernon, New York, Denzel developed his acting skills at 
Fordham University, the American Conservatory Theater, and even at a 
summer stock theater in St. Mary's City, Maryland. His film debut was 
in 1977's Wilma, which proved significant for reasons entirely 
unrelated to the movie--it was on that set that he met Pauletta 
Pearson, who 6 years later would become his wife. He credits her as the 
most important person in his life, the one who keeps him grounded and 
fills his days with love and purpose.
  Denzel began receiving national attention for his talent in the early 
1980s. He impressed critics and audiences alike in the television drama 
St. Elsewhere, and his true breakout film role was in 1984's, A 
Soldier's Story.
  In 1989, Mr. Washington reached the pinnacle of his profession, 
winning his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the film 
Glory, directed by Edward Zwick, wherein he portrayed a soldier in the 
illustrious 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, fighting for his 
race's freedom in the Civil War.
  His portrayals on the silver screen demonstrate his brilliance and 
remarkable range as an actor. Washington's films are both critically 
acclaimed and beloved by the viewing public. Some of his most notable 
works include The Preacher's Wife, American Gangster, and Training Day, 
which earned him a second Oscar, this time for Best Actor. Denzel was 
only the second Black actor in history to win the Best Actor award, 
after Sidney Poitier won it in 1964 for his performance in Lilies of 
the Field.
  Mr. Washington's contributions to society extend far beyond the lives 
that he portrays in his films. Denzel has redefined what it means to be 
a star in Hollywood, speaking out about his commitment to service and 
efforts to be an advocate for good.
  Since the 1990s, Mr. Washington has served as both a board member and 
national spokesman for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which provide 
voluntary after-school programs for our nation's young people. He even 
received the distinction of having a New York City elementary school 
named in his honor, thanks to his extensive work with the Boys & Girls 
Club.
  Denzel was also named the 2021 Honorary Sergeant Major of the Army 
due to his work with the Fisher House Foundation, a non-profit that 
constructs housing for military and veteran families, free of charge. 
In 2022, President Joe Biden awarded Mr. Washington the Presidential 
Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
  In 1996, I had just departed from the Congress to become the 
president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of 
Colored People (NAACP). That year, I selected Denzel and songstress 
Whitney Houston to co-host the NAACP Image Awards, which celebrate the 
outstanding achievements and performances of people of color across 
film, television, music, and more.
  Mr. Speaker, Denzel Washington's career encapsulates what it means to 
use art for good. He is an artist who wields his platform to foster 
inclusion and support numerous worthy causes. His work doesn't just 
entertain--it empowers people of every race, color, and creed. It is a 
true honor to recognize Mr. Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr., as an 
inspiring force for future generations of filmmakers and artists.

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