[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[January 29, 1992]
[Pages 163-164]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Message on the Observance of National African-American (Black) History 
Month, February 1992

January 29, 1992
    ``When I found I had crossed that line, I looked at my hands to see 
if I was the same person. There was such a glory over everything.'' With 
these words, Harriet Tubman described her escape from slavery during the 
mid-19th century. The glory of which she spoke was nothing less than 
freedom--and the promise of better days to come.
    Although African-American history begins long before the days of 
Harriet Tubman, who helped to lead thousands of her fellow Blacks out of 
slavery during the Civil War, it is filled with similar accounts of 
faith, courage, and triumph in the epic struggle for liberty and 
justice. This month, through special programs and activities across the 
country, we honor the many African Americans who have helped to uphold 
our Nation's declaration ``that all men are created equal, that they are 
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among 
these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.'' Just as all 
Americans should study the words and deeds of our Founding Fathers, so 
should all Americans learn about the Black leaders who have helped to 
make the promise of freedom a reality.
    The men and women whom we remember this month will long inspire 
others. In addition to honoring individuals such as Rosa Parks and other 
heroes of the civil rights movement, we also recall pioneers like George 
Washington Carver, who made

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important discoveries in agriculture, and Benjamin Banneker, who served 
as one of the architects of Washington, D.C., our Nation's Capital. We 
remember outstanding Black American artists, including legendary singers 
and musicians such as Marian Anderson, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy 
Gillespie. Others, we remember for their devoted service to our country: 
from military heroes such as the Tuskegee Airmen to remarkable 
international civil servants like Ralph Bunche. The stories of these 
individuals, together with many other accounts, make up the rich fabric 
of African-American history.
    That history, of course, continues to unfold each day, and I am 
heartened to know that many parents and teachers will be using this 
occasion to challenge and to inspire young people. With the past as 
their guide, Black youth can make their future bright, as they weave 
their own strands in the rich tapestry of African-American history.

                                                             George Bush