[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 16334]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       JAMES LEONARD FARMER, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JULIA CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 15, 1999

  Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to honor and remember an 
American hero, James Leonard Farmer, Jr. who passed away on July 9 at 
the age of 79.
  James Farmer was one of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement who 
helped to shape America. He was a pioneer in both his ideas and 
actions. His accomplishments and courage over the course of his life 
are unparalleled.
  James Farmer is often overshadowed in the Movement by Martin Luther 
King Jr. However, he was the first in the Movement to implement the 
ideas of Mahatma Ghandi and use non-violence and civil disobedience to 
fight segregation and hatred. He founded the Congress of Racial 
Equality (CORE) in 1942. He organized the first sit-in in the country 
in a restaurant with members of CORE. CORE was also responsible for the 
Freedom Rides in the summer of 1961. These accomplishments led to the 
desegregation of interstate buses in the South and, in part, led to the 
Civil Rights Bill of 1964.
  His leadership led to great strides that were made early in the Civil 
Rights Movement. His intellect, bravery, and commanding oratory skills 
were a primary reason that the Movement was able to gain support from 
all people.
  He continued his work in the Civil Rights Movement in other facets, 
such as running for Congress, working in the Nixon administration, and 
teaching, which is what he continued doing until the end of his career.
  He continued to educate young people about the history of the Civil 
Rights Movement. He continued combating hate with ideas of love, 
brotherhood, and non-violence. He knew fear did not mean cowardice, and 
that hate was ignorance. He espoused that love and cooperation 
transcends race, gender, and differences and creates a better mankind. 
The better humankind for which he strived is a humankind that is truly 
one and truly unified, and when we as a people achieve this, it is then 
that we approach our Dream.

                          ____________________