[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2380]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          BLACK HISTORY MONTH

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition and support of 
one of the most important months of the year that should be celebrated 
year round: Black History Month.
  Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a prominent African-American historian, 
author, and journalist, founded ``Negro History Week'' in 1926 to 
establish a sense of pride in African Americans who had been ignored or 
misrepresented in traditional American History lessons. ``Negro History 
Week'' later evolved into Black History Month, a celebration of the 
people, history, culture, and contributions of persons with African 
heritage.
  In part because of Black History Month, many are familiar with 
prominent African Americans who have changed the course of history: 
Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks were at the forefront of the 
civil rights movement, Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American 
woman elected to Congress, and Jackie Robinson was the first African 
American to play major league baseball. But let's not overlook people 
such as the Golden Thirteen, the first African Americans to receive 
officer's training by the U.S. Navy.
  At the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in my home State of 
Illinois, these young men worked and studied together for the 
comprehensive exam that would allow them entry into Officer Candidate 
School. Not only did they pass the exam and go on to become 
commissioned officers in the Navy, they earned the highest grades ever 
recorded in Navy history. In fact, their record has yet to be broken. 
Though they were often denied the privilege and respect afforded White 
naval officers, they served with distinction in World War II and 
knocked down the walls of Jim Crow in the process.
  Illinois, in fact, has produced some of the greatest contributors to 
Black history, including jazz musician Miles Davis, Olympic track and 
field runner Jackie Joyner Kersee, famed composer Quincy Jones, and 
countless others. Illinois also has the unique distinction of electing 
two of the five African Americans who have served in the U.S. Senate: 
our very own Senator Barack Obama and former Senator Carol Moseley-
Braun.
  During the past 400 years, against all odds and in spite of numerous 
roadblocks, African Americans have woven themselves into the fabric of 
this country. Through academics, government, music, art, food, sports, 
America would not be what she is without the contributions of her 
African-American population.

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