[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5427]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO ANITA BURSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2005

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Anita Burson who has 
dedicated her life to empowering disenfranchised citizens, improving 
her community and strengthening her church.
  The first child of a distinguished Baptist minister and church 
leader, Anita was born at the segregated Jubilee Hospital in Henderson, 
North Carolina, on the Fourth of July at the conclusion of Sunday 
services, to Rev. Dr. O.B.J. Burson and Katie Leak Burson, an educator 
and engineer. Her late parents were college sweethearts at Shaw 
University. Anita is a direct Native American descendant.
  A child of the parsonage during the turbulent last days of de facto 
segregation, Anita was privileged to witness daily the planning and 
activities involved in the fight for desegregation. She was also 
privileged to meet and hear some of the great pulpiteers and civil 
rights leaders of the time, who were often guests in the family home. 
Anita was immersed in religious activity, as well as education and 
civic awareness. One of her strongest memories of the struggle for 
civil rights was the evening white supremacist terrorists fired bullets 
into the church her father pastored in Coley Springs, North Carolina, 
while an integrated prayer rally and training sessions for voter 
registration and civil demonstrations were in progress. Those bullets 
remain lodged in the doors of that church sanctuary today.
  Anita attended public schools in North Carolina and Virginia, where 
she was one of the first students to integrate a Summer Enrichment 
Program for gifted students. Later the family moved to Brooklyn, New 
York where she completed high school. While still a high school 
student, she organized the first on-site voter registration campaign 
for 18-year-olds, at her high school. During her college career, she 
became the first Black woman to serve as an elected student officer at 
Finch College, and the first to earn a position on the Academic 
Council. Anita graduated from Finch/Marymount Manhattan College with a 
Bachelors Degree in Cultural Anthropology & Sociology.
  In 1977, Anita was elected to Community School Board #17, and became 
a member of the first Black majority in New York City's Crown Heights-
Flatbush district in Brooklyn. She served as an officer on that body's 
executive board. Later, as a political campaign professional, she 
worked for President Jimmy Carter. She has served as a consultant to 
candidates for Federal, statewide and municipal legislative offices and 
other positions.
  The Rev. O.B.J. Burson's role as a religious and civic leader ushered 
Anita into a life of community awareness and commitment. Her life has 
always been deeply rooted in the Baptist and AME Zion denominations. 
She is the great-great-granddaughter of Rev. Washington Leak and great-
granddaughter of Rev. Thomas J. Leak, two prominent AME Zion leaders 
and educators. She is a fourth generation member of the National 
Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc. (NBC,USA); her paternal great-
grandfather and his brother were present at its original meetings. 
Continuing that legacy in 1992 and 1993, Anita became the first outside 
consultant (in 112 years) for The NBC, U.S.A., to coordinate convention 
activity for its annual board meeting and annual session held in New 
York City.
  Professionally, Anita is best known for her unparalleled skill as an 
advisor to pastors, clergy, denominational organizations, and to 
individuals, groups and corporations seeking to relate better to them. 
With nearly 25 years of experience in all aspects of professional 
campaign management and not-for-profit organizational development, 
Anita's professional acumen has been enhanced by her life's 
experiences. She is noted for her creative concepts and approaches to 
building sustainable relationships and enhancing networks between the 
public and private sector and religious organizations. Anita is a 
frequent speaker at churches, and for special events within local 
communities around the nation. She is to begin her own seminary 
training later this year.
  Mr. Speaker, Anita Burson has been a leader in her community through 
her commitment to her church, civic organizations and coalition 
building. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving our recognition 
today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly 
remarkable person.

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