[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1205]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                IN COMMEMORATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 8, 2012

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, this February we recognize and celebrate 
the 36th commemoration of Black History Month. This month we celebrate 
the contributions of African Americans to the history of our great 
Nation, and pay tribute to trailblazers, pioneers, heroes, and leaders 
like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Supreme Court Justice Thurgood 
Marshall, U.S. Senator Blanche Kelso Bruce, U.S. Congresswoman Barbara 
Jordan, Astronauts Dr. Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. and Mae C. Jemison, 
Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, James Baldwin, Harriet 
Tubman, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Gwendolyn Brooks 
just to name a few of the countless number of well-known and unsung 
heroes whose contributions have helped our Nation become a more perfect 
union. The history of the United States has been marked by the great 
contributions of African American activists, leaders, writers, and 
artists.
  As a member of Congress, I know that I stand on the shoulders of 
giants whose struggles and triumphs made it possible for me to stand 
here today and continue the fight for equality, justice, and progress 
for all, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
  Mr. Speaker, I particularly wish to acknowledge the contributions of 
African American women in shaping our Nation's history. As such, this 
Black History Month we honor groundbreaking ``Black Women in American 
Culture and History'' like U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan; activists 
Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks; astronaut Mae C. Jemison; authors Maya 
Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Gwendolyn Brooks; all of whom have each in 
their own way, whether through courageous activism, cultural 
contributions, or artistic creativity, forged social and political 
change, and forever changed our great Nation for the better.
  As we celebrate Black History Month, let us pay tribute to those who 
have come before us, and pay forward to future generations by 
addressing what is the number one issue for African American families, 
and all American families today: preserving the American promise of 
economic opportunity for all. Our immediate focus must be job creation, 
and enacting legislation that will foster and lay the foundation for 
today's and tomorrow's generation of groundbreaking activists, leaders, 
scientists, writers and artists to continue contributing to the 
greatness of America. We must work to get Americans back to work. We 
must continue to preserve the American Dream for all.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here in celebration of the heroic 
and historic acts of African Americans and their indispensible 
contributions to this great Nation. It is through our work in creating 
possibilities for today and future generations that we best honor the 
accomplishments and legacy of our predecessors.

                          ____________________