[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6252]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING YAZMIN SPEARMAN FOR WINNING THE LESSONS OF THE AFRICAN-
                  AMERICAN EXPERIENCE WRITING CONTEST

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                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2011

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Yazmin Spearman 
as a winner of the second annual Lessons of the African-American 
Experience Creative Writing Contest. Yazmin is currently in the eighth 
grade at the Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication, which is 
located in New London, Connecticut.
  In celebration of Black History Month, I sponsored a creative writing 
contest for all third through eighth grade students within the Second 
District. As we know, Black History Month is a time to reflect on the 
struggles and triumphs of our nation's past. The lessons learned during 
this month continue to serve as the stepping stones of our nation's 
future. Yazmin's essay ``African American Music History: The Reason I 
Remember Black History Month'' eloquently embraces this belief.
  Yazmin's essay shows a remarkable enthusiasm for learning that is 
inspiring to all. She identifies the principles of perseverance and 
discipline as embodied by Marion Anderson and Stevie Wonder. Yazmin 
creatively discusses how their successes and failures encourage her 
dreams of becoming a musician. For this, her essay was among the 
winners selected.

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