[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 42 (Thursday, March 5, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H2429]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             KENT STATE UNIVERSITY AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH

  (Mrs. Sykes of Ohio was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mrs. SYKES. Mr. Speaker, as we come off the observance of Black 
History Month, we are reminded of a story of courage, scholarship, and 
action that helped reshape how America understands its past.
  Black History Month began with the work of Carter G. Woodson, who 
believed that contributions of African Americans must be visible, 
taught, and celebrated. In 1926, he created Negro History Week to 
highlight Black achievement and make space in our Nation's story for 
those who are often ignored.
  It was at Kent State University, my alma mater, in 1969 and 1970, 
that students decided that 1 week was not enough. Black students and 
educators argued that history this rich and important deserved at least 
a full month.
  Students from the Black United Students Organization proposed 
expanding the observance into what we now know as Black History Month.
  In February 1970, Kent State became the first campus to celebrate a 
month-long event, 6 years before it became a national observance.
  As someone who attended Kent State and studied in Oscar Ritchie Hall, 
I know firsthand the power of students demanding more truth, more 
justice, and more inclusion. Their voices shaped one of many national 
movements showing how change can start with those who are willing to 
speak up.
  Although February has ended, the lessons of Black History Month do 
not end with it. History shapes our identity as a nation: good, bad, 
and everything in between. When we know the struggles and triumphs of 
those who came before us, we understand our collective journey toward 
justice. Black history is American history, and leaving any part out 
makes our story incomplete.
  The close of Black History Month is not a conclusion. It is a 
continuation. It is a reminder to confront inequities in education, 
economic opportunity, healthcare, voting rights, and justice. True 
justice requires more than just recognition. It requires change. It 
requires action.
  Even as the calendar turns, the call remains the same: lift every 
voice, celebrate achievements, confront injustice, and teach future 
generations a history and the need for diversity, equity, inclusion, 
and unity.
  As we reflect on Black History Month here on the House floor, I ask 
all of my colleagues to recommit to these principles. When we expand 
the story of our history, we expand the promise of our future.

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