[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[February 25, 1991]
[Pages 171-174]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on the Observance of National Afro-American (Black) History 
Month
February 25, 1991

    Thank you very much. It is a great, great pleasure for Barbara and 
me to welcome you all to the White House. It's good to see so many 
friends here today, including so many members of our administration: our 
Vice President, of course; and Lou Sullivan; Jack Kemp; Lynn Martin; of 
course, the Chairman of our Joint Chiefs, General Powell; Connie Newman; 
Art Fletcher; and so many more. I salute our red-coated special guests. 
You bring honor to this place, and we're delighted to have you here.
    I know that the issue on all of our minds is the war in the Gulf. 
And I'm glad to report, after consultation a few minutes ago with 
Chairman Powell, General Powell, that the news is good. Coalition air 
and ground forces are advancing on their objectives.

[[Page 172]]

Enemy prisoners are surrendering in large numbers, large numbers. And 
thus far, thank God, U.S. and coalition casualties are few.
    The liberation of Kuwait is on course and on schedule. We have the 
initiative. We intend to keep it. We must guard against euphoria; there 
are battles yet to come and casualties to be borne. But make no mistake, 
we will prevail. Kuwait will soon be free, and America's men and women 
in uniform will return home to the thanks and respect of a grateful 
nation.
    This was a war thrust upon us, not a war that we sought. But naked 
aggression, such as we have seen, must be resisted if it is not to 
become a pattern. Our success in the Gulf will bring with it not just a 
new opportunity for peace and stability in a critical part of the world 
but a chance to build a new world order based upon the principles of 
collective security and the rule of law.
    But today, we're here to celebrate the proud spectrum of black 
achievement. For we recognize that black history, this rich tale of 
roots and purpose and pride, is really everyone's history.
    And something else, too: You know, in the midst of war we find 
ourselves thinking about heroes. Well, this is the time to especially 
think of black heroes, those who by their fierce conviction showed no 
race has a monopoly on idealism or excellence. And we must tell stories 
of black successes to every child in our country because we need heroes. 
We need them as much as we need our dreams. And black Americans have 
always provided both.
    A few nights ago, General Tony McPeak, the Chief of Staff of our Air 
Force, and an old friend many of you know, Ben Payton, president of the 
Tuskegee University, and Judge Souter of the Supreme Court and I, the 
four of us--men's night out on the town--[laughter]--went over to Ford's 
Theatre to see a play called the ``Black Eagles.'' And for those who 
aren't aware of that, it's a play about the Tuskegee Airmen of World War 
II, who were led by the legendary General Benjamin Davis. An incredible 
story of men who took their places among a very special group of 
heroes--black Americans who have fought for this country for over 200 
years.
    And they never received the credit, they never received the credit 
that they deserve for their devoted patriotism, for their vision, and 
their sacrifices. And America owes a long-overdue tribute to these men 
and women who, long before they had rights, believed in what was right.
    For two centuries, black soldiers have established a record of pride 
in the face of incredible obstacles. For not only did they risk their 
lives fighting for freedom for their own and for other countries but 
they did it at the same time that they were being denied their own God-
given freedoms at home. And think about how much they must have loved 
this country, how they believed in its dreams. It's an astounding 
devotion. It's in a league by itself.
    And you can feel that love of country just as strongly out there in 
the Gulf today. And yes, we've made great progress in righting the 
wrongs of the past, but tragically, racism and bigotry, illiteracy and 
poverty still exist. And America, of course, is not without its 
problems, and black Americans serving in the Gulf understand that. And 
yet, they've chosen to serve because they fundamentally believe in this 
country. And when these Gulf heroes come home, they'll continue to fight 
injustice by fighting discrimination and despair with the same 
commitment. And we will stand with them.
    So, to those who question the proportion of blacks in the armed 
services today, my answer is simple: the military of the United States 
is the greatest equal opportunity employer around. Every soldier, 
sailor, airman, coastguardsman, and marine have enlisted because they 
want to be a part of the 
American armed services, because they know it is a place of openness and 
true meritocracy, and because they know that every service man and woman 
receives equal training and the finest training and equal treatment 
every step of the way, with education funding and technical skills 
which will open up unlimited futures. If anyone thinks that the military 
is not the place for equal opportunity and advancement, then talk to 
General Waller, Lieutenant General Calvin Waller, our deputy commander 
in chief of the Central Command; or Colonel Hopper, deputy commander of

[[Page 173]]

the 63d Airlift Wing; or Air Force Colonel Leonard Randolph from 
Langley, Langley Air Force Base.
    Or listen to the man sitting over my right shoulder here, who 
answers those who criticize the proportion of blacks by challenging all 
of America. Here's what General Powell--his answer challenged the rest 
of this country to create the same paths of opportunity which we have in 
the military.
    Look at those brave men and women putting their lives on the line 
for us. And you don't see colors or creed. All you see are Americans: 
good, brave, dedicated Americans; Americans who volunteered, each and 
every single one of them, who put their devotion to country first; 
Americans with dignity and pride, calling America back to her better 
self; Americans serving as equals, measured only by their abilities. 
America's heroes, the real thing. Thank God we have them, every single 
one.
    Today we thank God for those who went before. For our new heroes are 
a part of a long tradition. The airmen in ``Black Eagles'' talk about 
it, for they made their own very special mark in the rollcall of 
generations who battled not only their country's enemy but also their 
countrymen's prejudice. In the play these brave warriors explain they 
were ``paving the way, paving the way.''
    And it was more than two centuries ago that the first black patriots 
started to pave the way of freedom road. In 1774, slaves sent a plea to 
the royal Governor of Massachusetts, saying, ``We have in common with 
all other men a natural right to our freedoms without being deprived of 
them by our fellow men.''
    Seems like these sentiments might have inspired the words that 
Thomas Jefferson wrote 2 years later: ``That all men are created equal 
and that they are endowed with the inalienable rights to life, liberty, 
and the pursuit of happiness.''
    What these men sent was a message from the heart to those who would 
follow: Stand up for freedom; cry out for freedom; risk all for freedom.
    And that's what blacks have done in every war in this nation's 
history. And they've done it with heroes like Crispus Attucks, the first 
American to die for the cause of his country's liberty; with heroes like 
the 5,000 blacks who fought in the Revolutionary War, loyal, courageous 
men who will at long last be honored with a memorial out here on The 
Mall, thanks to the Patriot Foundation which I hope we'll all support.
    Freedom road led nearly a quarter million newly freed slaves into 
the Civil War. Heroes emerged, like the men of Fort Wagner charge, so 
powerfully reenacted in the movie ``Glory.'' The black regiment lost 
half its men--imagine that, half its men--but won the dignity and 
respect that it rightfully deserved.
    Freedom road took black heroes up San Juan Hill with Teddy 
Roosevelt. And by the way, Colin Powell has a painting of them in his 
office. He says he likes to look up from his desk, see them, and 
remember the contributions of those who went before and, he says, 
reflect on what he must do to help those yet to come.
    Black heroes also paved freedom road on the French fields and Rhine 
River of World War I. But when their sons joined up 25 years later, they 
found there was much work left to do. And I heard a shocking story that 
took place right here in America in 1943, in the middle of World War II. 
Black soldiers stopped and tried to eat at a restaurant. Inside German 
prisoners, German prisoners of war, were being served a meal, but the 
restaurant refused to admit the black soldiers.
    By the end of the war, American black soldiers had paved a 
victorious path, paved it in bravery and in blood. And they won battles 
and medals. And they won respect as men and acceptance as Americans. And 
at long last they won the integration of the Armed Forces.
    These generations of heroes risked their lives so that their 
grandchildren could realize a dream: the dream of having the freedom to 
choose to serve their country, the dream that America would be a place 
where the only limits on a man would be the limits of his own vision, 
the dream of a nation where none would be called the first black, but 
rather, simply, the best. For, as Booker T. Washington said: ``No 
greater injury can be done to any youth than to let

[[Page 174]]

him feel that because he belongs to this or that race he will be 
advanced regardless of his own merit or efforts.''
    But let's face it, the dream is not yet fully realized, and there is 
today too much crime and too much crack and too much despair. And yet, 
there is also today too much faith and too much pride and too much human 
dignity to give up or to give in.
    And that's why we urgently need to turn to the tradition of black 
heroes today, to inspire a new generation to believe in itself and in 
the future. Homegrown heroes like Frederick Douglass, who fought for 
dignity; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who fought for the rights of 
millions; Jackie Robinson, who fought just to do what he did best. Like 
Ralph Bunche, who won the Nobel Prize; Gwendolyn Brooks, who won the 
Pulitzer; Jesse Owens, who won Olympic medals and the respect of the 
world. Humanitarians and leaders from George Washington Carver to Rosa 
Parks to the late Mickey Leland. Pioneers like Dr. Charles Drew and 
astronaut Ron McNair. And of course, the man who has brought 
inspiration, strength, and true spirit of heroism to the world's current 
struggle for humanity--the Chairman of our Joint Chiefs. [Applause] 
Exactly the way we all feel.
    But they're not the only ones. It is up to each of us. Together, we 
must write a new chapter in the history of civil rights, a chapter that 
says: Opportunity must replace despair. For opportunity means education, 
equipping kids with the tools they need to compete in a new century. It 
means freedom from drugs. Opportunity means jobs, the dignity of work. 
It means owning your own home, and being safe in it. Opportunity means 
social programs to keep families together, and health care to keep them 
strong. And, above all, opportunity means we must treasure and defend 
the value of every human life. For as Langston Hughes wrote, ``There's a 
dream in this land with its back against the wall; to save the dream for 
one, it must be saved for all.''
    This is an ideal place for us to commit ourselves to writing that 
chapter. For in this very room, 27 years ago, the Civil Rights Act of 
1964 became law, a long overdue payment on a promissory note of equality 
signed two centuries before. But as long as discrimination, born of 
ignorance and inhumanity, still exists, our work is not yet finished. 
And as long as the Four Horsemen of the American night--illiteracy, 
inequality, indigence, and fear--threaten any of us, our work is not yet 
finished.
    And so, we must as a nation pledge that never again will the 
individual be degraded and devalued, that we will remember the Black 
Eagles who soared from bigotry on Earth to equality in the skies.
    And I am committed to civil rights and opportunity for every person 
in this great country. And I will simply say to all of you: I salute 
you. I thank you for coming here to share this very special day with all 
of America. And at this special time in our history, may God bless those 
who are serving us halfway around the world. May they be treated with 
respect and the dignity that they deserve when they come back home 
having freed another country.
    Thank you all and God bless you.

                    Note: The President spoke at 11 a.m. in the East 
                        Room at the White House. In his remarks, he 
                        referred to Secretary of Health and Human 
                        Services Louis W. Sullivan; Secretary of Housing 
                        and Urban Development Jack Kemp; Secretary of 
                        Labor Lynn M. Martin; Colin L. Powell, Chairman 
                        of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Constance Berry 
                        Newman, Director of the Office of Personnel 
                        Management; Arthur A. Fletcher, Chairman of the 
                        Commission on Civil Rights; Gen. Merrill A. 
                        McPeak, Air Force Chief of Staff; Benjamin F. 
                        Payton, president of Tuskegee University; Jackie 
                        Robinson, professional baseball player; Rosa 
                        Parks, civil rights activist; Representative 
                        Mickey Leland; and Dr. Charles R. Drew, 
                        physician. The President also referred to the 
                        ``Tuskegee Airmen,'' a group of World War II 
                        veterans who had received their training at 
                        Tuskegee Institute.