[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24525]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DENNIS RAHIIM WATSON AND HIS ONE-MAN 
          SHOW, ``FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 8, 2009

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, as we celebrated the election of President 
Barack Obama as the first African-American President of the United 
States, I rise to pay tribute to motivational speaker Dennis Rahiim 
Watson on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of his critically 
acclaimed one-man show, ``The First Black President of the United 
States,'' which made its debut in the Art Gallery of the Adam Clayton 
Powell Jr. State Office Building in my beloved village of Harlem, New 
York.
  Since 1982, Dennis Rahiim Watson, a Bermuda born and Harlem raised 
former actor comedian, has made a major contribution for over a quarter 
of a century to black and white youths of America. Throughout his life, 
he has inspired, motivated and challenged over 5 million youth and 
adults alike with his one-man show, ``The First Black President of the 
United States.'' Dennis has thrilled audiences at high schools, 
colleges, and universities among them Harvard, Notre Dame, Howard, 
University of Georgia, Tufts, NYU, CCNY, Malcolm-King College, Illinois 
State University and University of Pittsburg.
  Former President William Jefferson Clinton in a letter to Dennis 
stated that, ``for over a quarter of a century you have used your role 
as the First Black President of the United States to give disadvantaged 
youth an insight into the future and its possibilities, and by your own 
example you have helped to provide countless young people with the 
tools and encouragement they need to reach their god-given potential. 
Your life's work has been a true investment in the future of our 
Nation.''
  More recently, President Barack Obama in a letter praised Watson for 
his role as the First Black President of the United States by stating 
that, ``theatre has the power to inspire and the power to teach and 
it's important to use that power to lift up and honor our highest 
ideals.'' ``You have broadcast the message in your role as the First 
Black President of the United States that all children can dream big 
dreams and that anyone regardless of the color of their skin can 
achieve anything. Anyone can grow up to become President of the United 
States.''
  I congratulate Dennis Rahiim Watson on his latest achievement of 
becoming the new Chairman of the National Youth and Gang Violence 
Taskforce and President and CEO of the Center for Black Student 
Achievement. Your commitment to the value of educating our youngsters 
and listening to their concerns is irrefutable.
  So, Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues 
join me in recognizing my good friend Dennis Rahiim Watson. His success 
is a testament to his historic and tireless commitment to bringing 
African-American youth the vision, the hope, and the dream that an 
African-American could become President in our lifetime before anyone 
ever knew it was remotely possible.

                          ____________________