[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 940]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          BLACK HISTORY MONTH

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr President, I rise to acknowledge the great 
contributions of Colorado's African-American community in celebration 
of Black History Month.
  Colorado's African-American community has a long history in our 
State. From the days of its settlement to modern times, Colorado has 
benefited from the Black community's hard work and dedication to making 
Colorado a better place to live.
  In contemporary times, we often forget about the diversity of 
settlers that moved West during the expansion of the United States. 
But, Black settlers played an active and productive role in the 
formation of the American West. Many of these settlers found their 
freedom by moving West and became entrepreneurs, traders, and leaders 
that helped in the formation of Colorado as a territory and State. 
Names of early African-American westerners, such as James Beckwourth 
and ``Aunt'' Clara Brown, echo through Colorado history.
  James Beckwourth was a true frontiersman, leading expeditions into 
Colorado's Rocky Mountains in the 1820s and returning later in the 
1830s to serve at Fort Vasquez near Denver. In the 1840s, he cofounded 
a fort and settlement named Pueblo so he could enter the lucrative 
trade business along the Santa Fe Trail. This settlement eventually 
became the city of Pueblo and still serves as a commercial hub for 
southeast Colorado.
  ``Aunt'' Clara Brown is another strong African-American figure who 
fled slavery to establish an independent life in the West. When she 
reached Colorado in the 1860s, she found a place that rewarded hard 
work. She earned her living laundering the clothes of miners in Central 
City and served her community by helping others in need regardless of 
their race. She was a woman who valued a commitment to her community 
and to providing opportunity to those who lacked the resources to 
access it.
  These individuals--and countless others--are real examples of the 
early contributions of African Americans in Colorado and throughout the 
American West. Yet I do not speak of these individuals so their stories 
remain in history books or museums, but instead to highlight the 
continuing efforts and contributions of Colorado's Black community to 
our State. From the time that James Beckwourth and ``Aunt'' Clara Brown 
made their way to Colorado along with other Black men, women and 
children until present day, there have been many other community 
leaders, public officials, and entrepreneurs who have overcome the 
struggles of progress. They rose above the challenges of frontier life 
and those hard times of the great depression. They joined many others 
to mine Colorado's mineral wealth and forge the steel of Colorado's 
railways to contribute to Colorado's burgeoning economy. They have 
fought in every major American war to protect a collective freedom that 
for so many years they were denied. And they have risen in solidarity 
to defend the civil rights of every American citizen regardless of the 
color of their skin.
  Today, I am proud to see Colorado's African-American community 
continue as a vibrant force in our State, just as they can be found in 
our history.
  As I marched recently in Denver's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. 
``marade,'' I was reminded of Dr. King's dream of a nation where people 
are not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their 
character. We have made much progress in working to fulfill Dr. King's 
dream; and it was evident to me, that his message is still being heard.
  Mr. President, I hope all Coloradans and Americans can reflect on the 
contributions of African Americans of our State and throughout our 
great Nation not only during the Black History Month but in every month 
of the year.

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