[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 8 (Monday, February 27, 2006)]
[Pages 320-322]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Celebration of African American History Month

February 22, 2006

    The President. Welcome. Please be seated. Thanks for coming. Welcome 
to the White House. So glad you could join us for the 80th--80th--
celebration of America--African American History Month. We're here today 
to mark the achievements of African Americans in our country's history 
and to honor the contributions so many African Americans are making to 
our land today.
    I appreciate the Vice President joining us. I want to thank the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services--[laughter]--he's constantly 
trying to promote himself--the Secretary of HUD, Alphonso Jackson. 
Looking sharp today. [Laughter] Keeping good company, too, by the way. I 
want to thank the other members of my administration who have joined us.
    I particularly want to pay my respects to Dr. Dorothy Height, 
president emeritus and founder--[applause]. I couldn't help but noticing 
A.C. Green. [Laughter] Thanks, A.C., for setting such a good example and 
using your position to help others. It's an honor you're here; really 
appreciate you coming.
    This month we gather to honor the generations of heroes who called 
on our Nation to live up to its founding promise of equality--people 
like Dorothy Height. The past year, we lost two of these heroes, women 
whose

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grace and determination helped change the path of American history, Rosa 
Parks and Coretta Scott King.
    Mrs. Parks helped set in motion a national movement for equality and 
freedom when she refused a bus driver's order to give her seat to a 
white man. Mrs. King spent her life advancing the cause of civil rights 
for all Americans. The courage and the dignity of these women helped 
rouse the conscience of a complacent nation, and we will continue to 
work to make the America these women fought for uphold the promise to 
all.
    The reason to honor these women is to pay homage to their character 
and their strength, and to remember the ideal of active citizenship. In 
the 1960s, many active citizens struggled hard to convince Congress to 
pass civil rights legislation that ensured the rights of all--including 
the right to vote. That victory was a milestone in the history of civil 
rights. Congress must act to renew the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
    When African American History Month began eight decades ago, it was 
based on the belief that if African Americans were to take their 
rightful place in American society, Americans of all races should learn 
about black contributions to our history. That conviction is every bit 
as true today as it was in 1926. Generations of African Americans have 
added to the unique character of our society. Our Nation is stronger and 
more hopeful as a result of those contributions.
    America is a better place because of African American writers like 
Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and W.E.B. DuBois. Our culture is 
richer, thanks to the talents of musicians like Nat King Cole, Lena 
Horne, and Dizzy Gillespie. We've been inspired by the achievements of 
African American scientists like George Washington Carver and baseball 
stars like Jackie Robinson. Our Nation is stronger because of the 
distinguished leadership of those like Supreme Court Justice Thurgood 
Marshall and our two most recent Secretaries of State, Colin Powell and 
Condoleezza Rice. Thanks to the contributions of these leaders and many 
others, our Nation has made great progress toward racial equality, yet 
we've got to remember there is still more work to be done.
    As we honor the achievements of black Americans across our land, we 
will keep striving to build an America where the dignity of every person 
is respected, where people are judged by the content of their character, 
and where the hope of the American Dream reaches every neighborhood and 
every citizen.
    To ensure the promise of America reaches all our citizens, we have 
got to make sure that every child receives a quality education. The 
reason I worked so hard for the No Child Left Behind Act is because I 
believe that every child can learn, and I refuse to accept a school 
system that doesn't teach every child. And so we've raised the 
standards, and we measure. You cannot solve a problem unless you 
measure, and when we detect problems, we solve them early, before it's 
too late.
    The No Child Left Behind Act is challenging the soft bigotry of low 
expectations, and it's having a positive result. Because we measure, 
because we hold people to account, we know this: that the most recent 
results of our Nation's Report Card show African American children are 
closing an achievement gap. And it's an achievement gap we must close if 
the promise of this country is going to reach every neighborhood.
    Last year, African American 9-year-olds set records in reading and 
math. The gap between white and African American 9-year-olds in reading 
is the narrowest it's been in the history of the accountability system. 
Thirteen-year-old African American students achieved their highest math 
scores ever. We're making progress, and we're not going to stop until 
every single child has a quality education.
    One way to ensure the promise of America reaches all of our citizens 
is to encourage ownership. We want people owning something. One way to 
help people realize their dreams is to encourage African Americans to 
own their own businesses. Last year, the Small Business Administration 
increased the number of loans to African American businesses by 42 
percent. We're going to continue encouraging entrepreneurship throughout 
our country. Minority businesses are getting a better chance to compete 
for Federal contracts. More African Americans

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than ever before own their own businesses, and that's a hopeful 
statistic and an important signal that the American Dream is reaching 
beyond certain segments of our society.
    Part of ownership is for people to own their own homes. I love the 
idea when somebody opens up the door of their house and says, ``Welcome 
to my home; welcome to my piece of property.'' In 2002, Alphonso and I 
set a goal of having 5.5 [million] * new minority homeowners by the end 
of the decade. Since we set that goal, the number of minority homeowners 
has increased by 2.6 million. We're on track to reach our goal. Minority 
homeownership in the United States of America is at an alltime high.
    * White House correction.
    As we celebrate African American History Month, we remember and 
thank the many African Americans who are defending our ideals as members 
of the United States Armed Forces, some of whom are with us here today. 
I thank these courageous men and women who are risking lives to protect 
us, to preserve our liberty. By bringing the promise of freedom to 
millions across the world, they are laying the foundation of peace for 
generations to come. God bless.
    Service is a value that we all share, and today I am proud to 
recognize five citizens who are setting an example for all our fellow 
citizens. The President's Volunteer Service Award is the highest level 
of commendation a President can give in recognition of those who have 
contributed their time and their talent and their energy to helping 
others.
    Today we honor five such souls who are working to improve their 
communities and help their fellow citizens. Each of them has heard a 
call to serve something greater than themselves. By answering that call, 
you are inspiring others to do the same.
    The volunteers we recognize today are Carl Anderson from Washington; 
Karl'Nequa and Katie Ball from Jackson, Mississippi; Steve Ellis from 
the great State of Texas--[laughter]--and Joan Thomas from Smyrna, 
Georgia. Their efforts are helping to provide role models and mentors to 
inner-city girls, to encouraging youth volunteers to work with people 
with disabilities, to provide computer skills training in local schools 
and community centers, and providing college scholarships to 
underprivileged children.
    Today we honor your service. We appreciate what you have done to 
lift the spirit of the country. We thank you for loving a neighbor just 
like you would like to be loved yourself. And I join all Americans in 
congratulating you and wishing you continued success.
    And now, Commanders, if you all would read the citations.

[At this point, Lt. Col. Christian Cabaniss, USMC, Marine Corps Military 
Aide to the President, read the citations, and the President presented 
the medals.]

    That's it. Thanks for coming. God bless. Appreciate you all.

Note: The President spoke at 3:13 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Dorothy I. Height, chair and 
president emerita, National Council of Negro Women, Inc.; and A.C. 
Green, Jr., former National Basketball Association forward.