[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[February 19, 1992]
[Pages 281-282]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on the Observance of African-American History Month

February 19, 1992
    Welcome to the White House, and thank you all very, very much for 
coming. The finalists and the semifinalists of the McDonald's Black 
History Makers of Tomorrow are here, and I want to salute them right off 
hand, over here. Welcome to the White House. And next let me single out, 
as a fan, the representatives of the Negro League Baseball Players 
Association, over here, very famous, all. Welcome.
    And to Mr. Justice White and members of our Cabinet, Chairman 
Powell, and others, let me just say that I am honored to join you in 
celebrating African-American History Month. I'm especially proud to 
introduce two special guests that we're going to hear

[[Page 282]]

from in a minute, Maya Angelou and Shirley Caesar, right here.
    Dr. Angelou, an author, editor, dancer, producer, now the Reynolds 
professor of American studies at Wake Forest University, she built a 
career exploring the promise of freedom. And her book ``I Know Why the 
Caged Bird Sings'' has thrilled readers and students by making the case 
for decency and courage and hope and determination.
    And our other guest is, of course, one of America's greatest gospel 
singers. Grammy award-winning--brought some family along to celebrate, I 
see, but never mind, that's fine even in the White House, Shirley--
Grammy award-winning Shirley Caesar has long lifted her voice to sing 
the bittersweet song of gospel. And her message, like the words of the 
well-known anthem, is ``full of the faith that the dark past has taught 
us and the hope that the present has brought us.''
    African-American History Month lets us reflect on our past, its 
triumphs and its tragedies, and it bids us to celebrate and to remember. 
But while we may use this time to stop and take stock of race relations, 
we must guard against the trap of viewing black experience solely 
against the backdrop of race.
    Too often the book of black history is defined only by the chapters, 
important though they may be, of slavery and emancipation and civil 
rights. African-American History Month puts on view a whole world of 
African-American experience, experience that has often pushed back the 
boundaries of race relations, but that is not always and only defined by 
them.
    This month explores another chapter, Africans' roots explore new 
worlds. It celebrates the black pathfinders and trailblazers who pushed 
back the bounds of the unknown and expanded the boundaries of knowledge. 
Explorers like Pedro Nino, who followed the stars to a new world; 
pioneers like Guion Bluford, Jr., who parted the stars toward the 
unknown; or Arctic explorer Matthew Henson, who braved the edge of 
creation at the newfound North Pole.
    And then, of course, we salute other black pioneers, pioneers whose 
compass was courage, whose map, moral vision. These are people like Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr., who realized ``that the time is always ripe to 
do right.'' And we think of Alex Haley; a writer described him as a man 
who ``turned loss into pride, history into heritage, and helped make 
black America a family again.'' I'll never forget ``Roots.'' You'll 
never forget Alex Haley. And then we think of A. Philip Randolph, the 
labor leader who fought to desegregate the military. Jesse Owens, whose 
triumph humiliated Hitler, before the entire world, I might add. George 
Washington Carver, Rosa Parks, Dr. Charles Drew, Benjamin Banneker, the 
legacy of the Tuskegee airmen. We think of Mr. Justice, right here in 
the front row, our dear friend Clarence Thomas. And we think, of course, 
of Colin Powell.
    These pioneers and many like them peered over the rim of the 
possible and dared to walk where others had only dreamed. We, too, stand 
at the edge of a frontier, the frontier of brotherhood, the frontier of 
a better tomorrow. It's up to us to see beyond old divides and set our 
sights on new common ground. And as we continue our efforts to create 
prosperity for all, we must also create new trust, a new tolerance, a 
new opportunity. And we will.
    There is not, and there will never be, a place in America for 
hatred, for prejudice, for intolerance. And this is not America; this is 
not us. And let's push back the small crowds who preach hatred. Let's 
create room for the American dream, for a land where all God's children 
sing in the joyous songs of freedom. And so, that's our challenge. And I 
hope it will form the next chapter of our national history.
    And so, thank you all very, very much. And now for what we all came 
to hear. First, I've introduced you to Dr. Angelou, but I believe, 
Shirley, you are the lead-off hitter. And these guys would know exactly 
what that means. So come on up, Shirley Caesar.

                    Note: The President spoke at 5 p.m. in the East Room 
                        at the White House.