[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 3860-3861]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       BLACK WOMEN'S HISTORY WEEK

  Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I request that the U.S. government 
officially recognizes the last week in March as Black Women's History 
Week. During the week of March 23, as part of Women's History Month and 
in honor of the U.N. declaration of 2015 as the decade of Afro 
descendants, this week marks the perfect occasion on which to begin an 
annual recognition and celebration of Black women's history and 
contributions to American society.
  Black women have long gone above and beyond the call of duty in their 
contributions to American society through civic engagement, high voter 
turnout, and stepping up as leaders and bulwarks in their communities. 
Even in the face of grave oppression throughout our Nation's history, 
Black women have continued to stand strong and contribute to the well-
being of their families, communities, and our country as a whole. A 
recognition of Black Women's History Week on the part of the Obama 
Administration and Congress would send a critical message that the 
government wishes to elevate their role in history and contemporary 
society and recognizes the unique struggles they continue to experience 
today.
  Black women have consistently played a critical role in this Nation's 
history, often with little thanks or recognition. Harriet Tubman 
escaped slavery and bravely returned to the enslaved South 13 times to 
herald her people to freedom on the Underground Railroad. A century 
later, Rosa Parks witnessed the oppression of her people--specifically 
her fellow Black sisters--and took an active role in organizing the 
Montgomery Bus Boycott. Today, a Black woman is our nation's First 
Lady. Recognition of Black Women's History Week would honor and uplift 
the sacrifices of women such as Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks, who 
paved the way for Barack and Michelle Obama to reach the White House, 
and me to address you on their behalf today.
  Yet at the same time that Black women from our Nation's history have 
become inspirational symbols of strength and perseverance, Black women 
today continue to face the necessity to persevere through undue burdens 
as they navigate American society. They must try to hold their families 
together as primary caregivers when family members are incarcerated or 
killed, support their children as they grow up in food deserts and 
attend failing schools, they must continue to persevere when our 
society does not provide them with adequate support and equal rights. 
All the while, many Black women struggle to forward their own careers 
and provide for their families. Recent U.S. Department of Labor data 
shows that while job prospects are improving for nearly every group in 
America, one glaring exception remains: Black women. Since August 2013, 
Black women are the only group for whom unemployment rates have not 
fallen.
  Karen McLeod's experience as a 59-year-old college graduate with two 
degrees who cannot find steady employment sheds light on the economic 
tribulations many Black women face. Karen went from making $30 per hour 
as a respiratory therapist to $16 per hour at a nonprofit, to $8.67 per 
hour, working only 4 hours per week. In her current circumstances, she 
has had to make a series of tough decisions to get by. Karen sold her 
jewelry to pay for gas, pawned her television for food, and was forced 
to ask local nonprofits for rent assistance. Karen's story represents 
the experiences of a growing number of Black women, whose conditions 
are not improving with economic recovery. White House recognition of 
Black Women's History Week will serve to acknowledge and call attention 
to the continued struggles Black women face in our society today and 
will send the critical message that their government cares about what 
they are going through.

[[Page 3861]]

  This year, a coalition of organizations advocating for the well-being 
of women and communities of color will partner to elevate the stories, 
histories, and realities of Black women's lives. Each day of the week, 
starting on March 23 and continuing through March 29, will focus on a 
different issue Black women face in American society today, from 
economic disparities to educational achievement to police violence. 
Exploring these issues and acknowledging the centrality of Black women 
to our history and social fabric, along with recognizing the uniquely 
gendered and racialized inequities they face, is critical as we seek to 
extend equal rights to all Americans. I hope and request that this will 
be the first year in what will become an annual tradition of 
celebration and intentional recognition of our sisters through Black 
Women's History Week.

                          ____________________