Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I wish to express my support for the Depository Institution Community Development Investments Enhancement Act, an act to reinvest in communities across America.

As you may recall, I strongly pushed for the Empowerment Zone legislation that was passed in the 90's. I'm supporting this act not only because it reminds me of the ambitious Empowerment Zone legislation, but because legislation like this sends Americans a message that Congress believes community development is important. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters in the Gulf Coast, a bill that supports redeveloping those communities impacted and other distressed communities across America is vitally important. People who live in those areas have suffered hardships with the loss and damage to homes, loss of jobs, and shut down of businesses. It is imperative for Congress to let them know that we care about that loss and to show them just that by supporting this act.

Further, this act would allow certain financial institutions the opportunity to support community re-development. Support from the financial institutions is a critical element. Financial institutions interested in revitalizing communities should have the tools to do so.

In the district I represent, I have witnessed the benefits of revitalization first hand. As a result of the Empowerment Zone, the Harlem area is thriving. Homes have been renovated and purchased. Businesses have opened and are thriving. Some jobs have been created. All of this brings hope to people. It is particularly important to continuously acknowledge the blood, sweat, and tears they shed so that all Americans could live in a section of the world where freedom reigns. It has been quoted, ``Freedom is not free.'' We all know that is true.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record an op-ed article drafted by Tony Best and printed the Carib News. The article, ``A Racial Slur That Causes Black Nanny To Cringe: Why New York City Council May Ban Use of N-Word,'' published March 6, 2007, highlights the power of the word and the need for more thoughtful conversation about its implications and usage.

As stated in the article, the N-word is ``a degrading term and should never be used to describe anyone.'' These words are particularly salient for Cindy Carter, a West Indian nanny who was physically and verbally disrespected by her employer, who insisted in calling her a ``stupid N-'' among other equally offensive expressions.

Since its inception the word has been used to pierce the minds and hearts of black people throughout the Diaspora. Despite being ``reclaimed'' by generations who prefer to use the term as a familiar greeting for one another--an attempt to take a word that has been historically used by whites to degrade and oppress black people, a word that has so many negative connotations, and turn it into something beautiful--the slur is abusive, ignorant and derogatory.

I applaud the work of Mr. Best and New York City Council persons, led by member Leroy Comrie of Queens to call for a moratorium on the use of the N-word in our city.

A Racial Slur That Causes Black Nanny To Cringe, Why New York City

Council May Ban Use of N-Word

(By Tony Best)

Every time Cindy Carter, a West Indian who lives and works

as a nanny on Long Island, hears the racial slur, it brings

back nightmares.

``It's an awful word,'' said the young woman referring to

the infamous and derogatory N-word.

Her nightmares go back to 2005 when an employer, Fontaine

Sheridan, allegedly pushed her down some steps at the white

woman's Massapequa Park home in Nassau County, scattered her

clothes on the lawn, screamed vulgar expressions, called her

a ``stupid nigger'' and ordered her to get ``off my

(obscenity) property.''

The housewife didn't stop there. She reportedly told the

Black woman who had been looking after her children, ``I have

been waiting for three years to call you a nigger.''

Almost a year later, Sheridan pleaded guilty to simple

assault in a Nassau County court and was placed on probation,

ordered to do community service and to attend anger

management classes.

The N-word and the circumstances surrounding Carter's

injury, allegedly at the hands of her former employer are at

the heart of a federal civil rights case in which Carter is

seeking substantial damages from the Sheridan family for

abusing her civil rights. Fred Brewington, one of New York

State's top civil rights attorneys, is handling Carter's

case.

``It's a degrading term and should never be used to

describe anyone,'' said the West Indian.

The slur, its abusive use and why it should be banned are

the subject of a resolution, which is to be debated by the

New York City Council this week in Manhattan. Introduced by

City Councilmember, Leroy Comrie of Queens, the measures

describes the word as ``an ignorant and derogatory'' insult.

Because of constitutional issues, such as the First

Amendment right of free speech, the resolution which calls

for a moratorium on the use of the word in New York City

wouldn't have the force of law but its approval would be

symbolic while drawing attention to the importance of not

using it.

Austin ``Tom'' Clarke, one of Canada's top novelist whose

book, ``The Polished Hoe,'' won the Giller Prize, Canada's

equivalent of the Pulitzer and then went on to be chosen a

few years ago as the best novel in the Commonwealth of

nations in Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, Australia, Canada and

New Zealand, objects to the use of the term.

``It is a degrading word meant to be just that, degrading

and no one, including Blacks should find it acceptable,'' he

said sometime ago in Brooklyn. ``I vigorously object to its

use.''

Irving Burgie, the composer of some of the world's best

known music, such as ``Day-O,'' ``Island in the Sun,''

``Jamaica farewell'' and ``Mary's Boy Child,'' agrees with

Comrie, Clarke and other advocates of its ban.

``The history of its use has always been degrading and

there is nothing redeeming about it,'' he said from his home

in Hollis Queens. ``We shouldn't try to fool ourselves about

that.

``Burgie was referring to the rappers who have embodied

``nigga'' in their lyrics and contend it's a term of

endearment when used by Blacks to describe other Blacks.

For example, Mos Def, a rapper, said in 1999 that they had

taken ``a word that has been historically used by whites to

degrade and oppress us, a word that has so many negative

connotations, and turning it into something beautiful,

something we can call our own.''

Linguists and others trace the origin of its use in the

U.S. to 1619 when John Rolfe, a colonist in Jamestown wrote

in his diary that a Dutch ship had arrived there with 20

`negars,'' meaning African captives.

While some scholars argued that Rolfe's use of the word

wasn't meant as a slur but was simply another way of

describing ``Negroes'' others contend that it was always

designed as a pejorative expression. Nineteenth century

American literature was laced with it, reflecting the

attitudes of White racists and slave owners who believed that

``niggers'' were sub-human species.

But Black rappers and a few Black comedians began

incorporating it in their using it more than 25 years ago,

giving it some measure of acceptance among young Blacks who

object to its use by whites.

Comrie and the resolution's supporters contend the use of

the N-word by Blacks is

misguided because the young people don't ``realize how their

self-image is debilitated when they use this awful word in

public.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the birth anniversary of General Casimir Pulaski, the Polish Hero of the Revolutionary War.

Often referred to as the father of American cavalry, Kazimierz Michal Waclaw Wiktor Pulaski herbu Slepowron, more commonly referred to as General Casimir Pulaski, was born in 1746 in Winiary. Born into one of the most notable families in the region, he was sent away at a young age to be educated.

Working alongside his father Jozef in 1768, Pulaski co-founded the Bar Confederation, an insurrectionists group that aimed to limit the spread of Russian hegemony, a threat to Policy liberty and Catholicism, throughout the commonwealth. With the motto of ``For Faith and Freedom,'' Pulaski participated in leading a confederation which fought for these goals. Pulaski gained renown during the battle of 1771 and went on to assert his leadership skills, military adroitness and valor in several battles before being exiled for a failed attempt to abduct the king. Although his efforts failed, Pulaski's leadership and courage inspired many.

In 1777 Pulaski traveled to the United States and met with General George Washington. Pulaski transformed soldiers into highly mobile forces, instituting the idea of a cavalry; soldiers who fought mounted on horseback. He would go on to lead several successful battles before sustaining a fatal gunshot wound in 1779.

Americans and Polish citizens alike have recognized Pulaski's heroism and commitment to freedom for centuries. He is honored, in both countries, in statue and in ceremony. In death, as in life, he remains a symbol of courage, commitment and friendship between Poland and the United States.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the record an article by Michael

D. Roberts published on February 27, 2007 in the Carib News, entitled: The Political Contributions of a Great Son of the Caribbean, Polemics of Garvey's Ideology Garveyism Is Black Action-Oriented and Just as Applicable, Today--An Analysis. The article reminds us of Marcus Mosiah Garvey's ideals of Black nationalism, the need to relinquish what he referred to as mental slavery and the importance of Black pride.

Marcus Mosiah Garvey was a pioneer and is credited with creating the biggest movement of people of African descent. In the 1920's, he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL), an international self-help organization with the goal of working for the general uplift of people of African ancestry. At its zenith, the UNIA had over a million members. This movement is said to have had more participation from people of African descent than the Civil Rights Movement, making it the largest Pan- African movement ever.

For the last several years I have sought to clear the name of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, which was tarnished by an unjust prosecution and conviction by the United States Government. I introduced H. Con. Res. 24, Expressing the sense of the Congress that the President should grant a pardon to Marcus Mosiah Garvey to clear his name and affirm his innocence of crimes for which he was unjustly prosecuted and convicted.

Marcus Garvey once exhorted, ``Up you mighty race, accomplish what you will.'' I have always believed that every Black child should know these words, and from whom they came. By passing this legislation we will be giving a gift to all people and acknowledge Garvey's teachings.

I urge my colleagues to recognize the contributions of Marcus Mosiah Garvey and support H. Con. Res. 24.

The Political Contributions of a Great Son of the Caribbean Polemics of Garvey's Ideology Garveyism Is ``Black Action-Oriented'' and Just as

Applicable Today--an Analysis

(By Michael D. Roberts)

For Marcus Mosiah Garvey, his ministry was clear--the

complete, total and never-ending redemption of the continent

of Africa by the people of African ancestry at home and

abroad. This was his strategic aim and objective. His ``Back

to Africa'' and ``Black is Beautiful'' were consciousness

building tools that hold relevance today though some scholars

will argue that the time for literally ``going back to

Africa'' has long gone.

But there is another school of thought that is relevant

today and that is that ``Back to Africa'' does not simply

mean hopping onto a plane and visiting Africa. It means

learning about Africa, embracing her culture and identifying

with African history. That is something that Blacks in the

Diaspora must do if, as the late great reggae superstar Bob

Marley says they must, ``liberate themselves from mental

slavery.''

I contend that an ideology is, at its most fundamental

stage, simply a collection of ideas. The word ideology was

coined by Count Destutt de Tracy in the late 18th century to

define a ``science of ideas.'' Thus, an ideology can be

thought of as a comprehensive vision; as a way of looking at

things in common sense with several philosophical tendencies.

Ideologies therefore differ depending on socio-economic and

political nuances and class relations in a society and the

dominance (or lack of it) by one class over another (dominant

ideology).

And while I'm at it let me try and define Garveyism so that

this analysis can take on the significance that such an

ideology deserves and exposes its essential lessons for 2007

and beyond. To more learned scholars on the subject and

definition experts I readily admit my shortcomings but will

try within the confines of this definition to set the stage

for my discourse on Garveyism.

The ideology of Garveyism is that detachment of Black

Nationalism which takes its core values and source from the

works, words and actions of The Universal Negro Improvement

Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL) and

their founder Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

The basic tenet of Garveyism is its laser-like focus on the

complete, total and neverending redemption of the continent

of Africa by people of African ancestry, at home and abroad.

It is rooted in one basic idea: ``whatsoever things common to

man that man has done, man can do''. Therefore, according to

Garveyism, Africans in the Diaspora must have an

uncompromising and unwavering commitment to the universal

improvement of the Black race since its redemption will

restore Mother Africa to her former greatness.

But how did this potent mix of Black Nationalism, Pan-

Africanism, and African patriotism become so enmeshed in this

Black Liberation ideology that today is paid little attention

by Black leaders in America and the Caribbean who believe

that rabblerousing and posturing are the tools to advance the

Black race? Let us revisit history for these answers.

In 1916 Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887-1940) brought his

budding Black Nationalist organization, the Universal Negro

Improvement Association (UNIA) to Harlem. He had formed this

organization two years before, in 1914, just as the big guns

were booming and wholesale slaughter was taking place during

the barbarism of the First World War in Europe.

UNIA itself was born out of Garvey's experience with

racism, discrimination, and injustice both in his homeland

Jamaica, and in other parts of the world where he traveled,

and where Blacks were always at the bottom rung of the

social, political and economic ladder. But Garveyism, as

his philosophy and principles are now known, remains

today, in 2007, an ideology largely underutilized and to

some extent shunned by those who would lead Blacks to

their promised land--wherever that may be. Nonetheless,

Garveyism is a most powerful weapon and preaches a Black

revolutionary path to achieving Black liberation.

Firstly Garveyism sees the Black problem as having to do

with the cultural, economic and psychological degeneration of

the Black race by centuries of slavery and racial

stereotyping. Garvey himself believed that Blacks lacked

knowledge and pride in their African ancestry and therefore

were easy prey to the ravages and machinations of white

racism.

This philosophy gained immense popularity in the early

twenties when Garveyism was the most popular form of Pan-

Africanism (a movement of union and recognition of cultural

similarity and commonality of interests of all of the

countries of Africa and Africans in the Diaspora) among

Caribbean-Americans and African-Americans. It was an ideology

which would find wide acceptance among Black leaders in

Africa waging anti-colonialist struggles for independence and

freedom.

But central to the teachings of Garveyism is the issue of

race. Marcus Garvey felt that the Black man (and woman) was

universally oppressed at the hands of the white power

structure and that any program of emancipation would have to

be developed around the question of race first. By

establishing a clear perspective on the racial question

Garveyism outlined a comprehensive program of political,

social, and economic action aimed at the total liberation of

the Black race.

So that in 1916, the same year that he brought the UNIA to

Harlem, Garvey convened the First Black Parliament which had

an international flavor. In an historical context the

principles outlined by Garvey and which form the basis of

Garveyism today set the guidelines for all succeeding Pan-

Africanist organizations all over the world and throughout

the Black Diaspora.

Garveyism's cultural principles

Garvey used the UNIA newspaper ``The Negro World'' to

combat the negative propaganda of white supremacist groups

who held that the Black man was biologically inferior and

therefore should be happy to remain enslaved. He waged a

constant campaign against all forms of racism from whatever

quarter they came--white or Black.

Garvey debunked the commonly held white myth about Black

people being visited with a biblical Hamitic curse telling

Blacks that their history was one of greatness, achievement

and pride. UNIA (motto: `One God! One Aim! One Destiny!') and

the ``Negro World'' sponsored Black beauty contests and

published photographs of Black women, Garvey called them

``Black Queens of Beauty,'' and numerous cultural programs

aimed at uplifting the Black race and developing racial

consciousness.

To the critics who assailed Garvey over the fact that he

was placing too much emphasis on the issue of Blackness and

race, saying that his focus should have been on the broader

problem of humanity, Garvey, in his typical blunt fashion,

argued that it was not humanity which was being ``lynched,

burned, Jim Crowed and segregated'' but Black people.

So deep was the issue of race to Garvey that he has left us

with a major statement on the primacy of race in all things.

This is how he put it:

``In a world of wolves one should go armed, and one of the

most powerful defensive weapons within the reach of Negroes

is the practice of race first in all parts of the world.'' It

is a lesson which modern-day Black leaders would do well to

revisit.

Garveyism's economic program

Garveyism places economic emphasis on the development of

Black-owned businesses. That is because although Garvey

believed that the racial consciousness of Black people was

of paramount importance, he also understood that without

economic power Blacks would still be the targets of

exploitation, oppression and discrimination. Garveyism has

left a practical approach to the issue of Black economics

which is more than applicable in today's troubled times of

economic scarcity and uncertainty.

Marcus Garvey was not just an excellent orator. He was a

Pan-Africanist revolutionary who believed in positive action.

The Black Star lines (an international commercial and

passenger steamship line), the African Commercial league and

African Factories Corporation (formed in 1922) were economic

organizations developed by Garvey aimed at the economic

liberation of the Black race.

And although many reactionary scholars pushing a

Eurocentric line have tried to ridicule the idea of the Black

Star Line, the powerful example of a great visionary can

never be smeared. Garvey understood the importance of

international trade and Black self-reliance. It was this

self-reliance which led him and his followers to form Black-

owned laundries, Black-owned restaurants, and Black-owned

grocery stores. Garvey encouraged Blacks to buy from Black

businesses and even went so far as to have Black factories

manufacture Black dolls for Black children.

Undoubtedly these principles of Garveyism should be dusted

off by the leaders of Black America and the Caribbean today

and used as a guide to positive action in these days when the

Black Diaspora is coming under attack and the gains of past

years are being threatened with erosion.

Garveyism's education program

Garvey stressed the importance of education beginning from

the position that white educational values had completely

contaminated the Black mind. In this Garvey was right. For

one of the first and most lasting forms of slavery, is in

fact ``mental slavery.'' Garvey saw that it was fundamentally

important to re-educate the Black race using Black history

and African heritage as the building blocks. To this end

Garvey formed the Liberty University, a vocational training

school in Virginia which was modeled after Washington's

Tuskegee Institute. This school was part of a wider program

of ongoing education which the UNIA launched to combat the

years of white conditioning of Black minds.

Marcus Mosiah Garvey was a giant of his time. No Black

leader has so completely dominated the Black liberation

struggle since his ministry. The sad thing is that the

ideology and philosophy which bear his name is not used as a

major tool today by present day Black leaders. But history is

full of the successes of Garveyism.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) party of South

Africa began as a Garveyite organization and many of its

guiding principles today have been developed using the tenets

of Garveyism. Malcolm X's father was a Garveyite who was

killed by the Ku Klux Klan and the famous African and Ghanian

anti-colonialist and pro-independence leader Kwame Nkrumah

was also a Garveyite. They understood the necessity to ``go

armed in a world of wolves.''

Today, Garvey's contribution to Black history stands out as

a monumental work of sacrifice and dedication. It is a pity

that as the Black Diaspora suffers at the hands of

international reaction in the form of white supremacists here

in the United States and neo-Nazi skinheads in Europe. Black

leaders are still failing to go armed among the wolves.

For the world of wolves have become much more

sophisticated, but the same problems which confronted Garvey

more than half a century ago, still plague the Black

community and race today.

The wolves have become more sophisticated, more organized,

and have traded in their white hoods, masks and sheets for

Armani business suits.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record an opinion editorial published in the Carib News newspaper the week ending February 27, 2007, titled ``Black History Month: The Hand of People From the Caribbean Seen in Every Aspect of Human Development''; as well as an article appearing the same week in the CaribNews paper, entitled, ``A Celebration of the Caribbean-American Contribution to Black History: Achievement and Hard-Won Successes Caribbean-Americans Have Added to the Rich Cultural Tapestry of the United States,'' by Michael D. Roberts. I cannot agree more with the author. Now is the time to reflect on past achievements of immigrants of Caribbean descent and their impact on our country, as well as look to the future with an abundance of hope that their continual contributions to the United States will resonate through eternity.

Since the abolition of slavery in 1834, the Caribbean has provided the primary source of the growth of the Black population in the U.S. Today many Caribbean workers residing in the U.S. are entrepreneurs and small business owners. They can be found working in hospitals, at construction sites and in technology and communication industries. They act as agents of social change in this country by participating in local, State and Federal Government, representing their communities while simultaneously inspiring others abroad to strive for stability and democracy in the homeland. Caribbean-Americans represent a large part of my district and have made a substantial contribution to the fabric of New York City's economy and they contribute to the diversity that characterizes the United States of America.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognition of the contributions of the Caribbean-American population in the U.S.

Black History Month: The Hand of People From the Caribbean Seen in

Every Aspect of Human Development

``When the great day of our liberation comes, we will find

the West Indian foremost in the ranks of those fighting with

his armor on and his sword raised aloft.''

Fenton Johnson, an African-American editor, poet and

political activist in Chicago was looking back while keeping

his eyes on the prize ahead of him in 1919.

``In every industry, in every profession, in every trade,

we find this son of the islands holding aloft the banner of

Ethiopia,'' he added.

Although much of what he had in mind: the black political,

cultural and economic awakening, has been achieved, a lot

remains to be done.

But as we celebrate Black History Month and the

achievements of African-Americans, some things are quite

clear: African Americans and people from the Caribbean have

been consistent allies. Secondly, there is need for even more

trust in each other.

Frederick Douglass, the ex-slave and the golden trombone of

the 19th century anti-slavery movement and one of the leaders

of the abolition crusade recognized the need for this united

effort when more than 170 years

ago he said: ``Let no American, especially no colored

American, withhold a generous recognition of this stupendous

achievement.''

The great achievement he had in mind as he addressed

immigrants from the Caribbean islands in Elmira in New York

was the impact of emancipation of slaves in the West Indies

in the 1830s.

``Emancipation in the West Indies was the first bright star

in the stormy sky,'' was the way he put it in Elmira, New

York in 1880.

It was more than that.

(It was) ``The first ray of hope'' for African slaves in

America, he insisted, was a reason to continue to fight,

agitate, revolt and runaway from atrocities perpetrated

across the land by white slave owners who considered four

million people nothing more than ``beasts of burden.''

But emancipation in the Caribbean, which spawned

expressions of joy and happiness, came at a price, thousands

of lives lost in the revolts against the brutality of

European domination.

As Douglass pointed out, ``the emancipation of our brothers

in the West Indies came home to us and stirs our hearts and

fills our souls with grateful sentiments which link mankind

in a common brotherhood.''

That's why it is so important to recognize the

contributions of people from the Caribbean to the development

of human civilization long before and after slavery was

abolished.

The contributions were recorded in all areas of human

endeavor and they have had an impact on the wide range of

emotions--exhilaration after outstanding successes, sadness

over the loss of life during the struggle for freedom and

hope for what may be ahead. From the fight for freedom from

British colonialism in North America and the Caribbean, the

growth of agriculture, including the sugar industry, the rule

of law, and the struggle for independence and sovereignty to

the outstanding educational advancement, literary

accomplishments, global recognition as an incubator for

sports stars, entertainment, and social and economic

development, the Caribbean and its people have made their

mark on society.

Dr. Winston James, a history professor at Columbia

University in New York, listed some of them in his book,

``Holding Aloft the Banner of Ethiopia,'' which should be

read by those searching for factual information about how we

got where we are today.

Denmark Vesey, who organized a Black uprising in Charleston

in 1832, was from the Virgin Islands. John Russwurm, a

Jamaican, was among the first Blacks to graduate from an

American college and in the Spring of 1827, a year after he

left Bowdoin College in Maine, he joined forces with the Rev.

Samuel Cornish and launched the Freedom Journal, the first

Black newspaper in the country.

Robert Elliott, one of the most erudite 19th century

members of the U.S. House of Representatives and a strong

advocate of civil rights in the Reconstruction era was also

from Jamaica. Crispus Attucks, the first person to give his

life fighting for the independence of the United States, was

from Barbados and Prince Hall, also a Barbadian founded the

Black Masonic lodge and led the struggle in Massachusetts to

educate Blacks in the country. Marcus Garvey, the leader of

the greatest Black mass movement of the 20th century, was

also from the West Indies. Derek Walcott and Prof. Sir Arthur

Lewis, two of the great Nobel Laureates, came from St. Lucia.

Today political, social and business leaders from almost

every Caribbean country are carrying on that tradition of

accomplishment at home in the Caribbean, in England,

continental Europe, Africa, Latin America and other regions

of the world.

That rich history of making a difference on the stage of

life and of setting examples that the rest of the world can

follow is undeniable and underscores the value of Black

History Month and the need to examine the role of people from

the Caribbean. This is a time to reflect on past achievements

and look to the future with an abundance of hope.

A Celebration of the Caribbean-American Contribution to Black History: Achievement and Hard-Won Successes Caribbean-Americans Have Added to

the Rich Cultural Tapestry of the United States

(By Michael D. Roberts)

Today, nobody can doubt the sterling contribution of

Caribbean-Americans to the growth and development of America.

And it's been a long history of proven commitment for those

who have made this country their adopted homeland.

That our ancestry from Africa labored without reward or

recompense in the dark days of slavery underscores the stake

that Caribbean-Americans have here in 2007. And for the

ignorant and uninformed few who consider Caribbean-Americans

outsiders, just sponging off the legacy of American

hospitality, I say this--read your history.

But not so long ago, it used to be the politically correct

thing to deny one's Caribbean-American roots. Indeed, early

Caribbean immigrants only wanted to assimilate into the

American mainstream. Don't rock the boat. Hide your Caribbean

identity; speak ``yankee'' in a few days. Never speak in

public about the ``old country.''

But even with this sentiment finding favor among certain

sections of the growing Caribbean community, Caribbean

nationals, later to be fully assimilated into American life

by the honorific name ``Caribbean-Americans,'' formed

alliances, and remained at the vanguard of the Black struggle

in their adopted homeland.

Today, the term ``Caribbean-American'' is synonymous with

hard work, a growing community of highly literate and skilled

people, a landed immigrant community taking hold of and

fashioning with a true ``Caribbean flavor'' all those areas

of American infrastructure--from government to religion. And

while there is still some way to go before we can truly say

that this community has ``come of age,'' that should never

diminish the contribution that these immigrants from the

Caribbean have made and continue to make on the American

scene.

Still, many stories are told even today about the early

Caribbean immigrants who waged those initial struggles to be

accepted by both Black and white America alike and for

economic well-being. For the most part, these early

immigrants, many of whom came from the middle and

professional classes in their various Caribbean island

homelands, were forced to take low-paying, menial jobs on the

way up the social and economic ladder. They drove taxis,

tended bar, worked in people's kitchens as housemaids, and

did two jobs, and sometimes three, to help the family here

and ``back home.''

And in today's climate of xenophobia, and the sustained

attack on the immigrant community, Caribbean-Americans living

here must be reminded that they are not all ``wards of the

state,'' and recipients of the legacy of white folks. Indeed,

the Caribbean-American experience and achievement in the

United States, and their unequalled penchant for hard work,

is chronicled in the pages of Black History. And there can be

absolutely no doubt that starting with the American War of

Independence, Caribbean-Americans have been involved and at

the forefront of every major struggle in the liberation of

Black America.

From the War of Independence to the New Deal to the Civil

Rights Era, the Caribbean-American record in their adopted

homeland is one of which generations yet unborn can be very

proud. Beginning with Crispus Attucks, the Barbadian man who

was the first casualty of the War of Independence, to modern

day leaders all over the country, Caribbean-Americans have

excelled. Hard work, dedication, and a commitment to

excellence at all and every level have marked their sojourn

in America. Today this large, dynamic and growing community

is recognized as one of the most affluent, educated, and

upwardly mobile ones within the wider Black and immigrant

communities--and the American society as a whole.

Despite many hardships, Caribbean-Americans have focused on

getting ahead. Now the early generation of immigrants is

almost retired, own their own homes, and have sent their

children to college. They have also educated themselves along

the way. This rising middle class has only now begun to flex

its political muscle since the economic and social tasks have

now been completed. First and second generations of

Caribbean-Americans, those born here in America, have helped

this community put down its roots, thus becoming an important

part of American life. These new torchbearers will build and

solidify the foundations started by the tremendous hard work,

sacrifices and tenacity that their grandfathers and fathers

have built.

On their journey Caribbean-Americans have drawn on the

achievements of many who traced their roots to the Caribbean

region in the persons of Hulan Jack, legendary trade unionist

Raymond Jones, ``The Fox of Harlem,'' and one of the first

Caribbean-American members of New York's City Council, the

king-maker Fred Samuels.

Upon the shoulders of these pioneering Caribbean-American

leaders now stands a modern generation of new leaders in all

areas of American life. The entertainment industry is

littered with the names and achievements of Caribbean-

American actors like Cecily Tyson, whose portrayal of Harriet

Tubman, the legendary Black freedom fighter is considered a

classic; Harry Belafonte, singer, actor, activist, and

ambassador of goodwill; and Sydney Poitier, exquisite actor

of film and television. Today's crop of actors who trace

their roots to the Caribbean are no less impressive: Sheryl

Ralph and Delroy Lindo from Jamaica.

Two Caribbean-Americans, former Congresswoman Shirley

Chisholm, the first elected Black woman to the United States

Congress, and Trinidadian Congressman Mervyn Dymally, were

indefatigable fighters for the cause of Blacks. Both have

made their marks on national and international politics. As

did the deceased former Stokely Carmichael, now Kwame Toure,

who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, and who excelled during

the Civil Rights/Black Power era in the United States. Of

course, the work and dedication of the late Cleveland

Robinson, a Jamaican who marched with Dr. Martin Luther

King, Jr., and who helped him plot the course of the Civil

Rights struggle, also stands out, as well as his lifelong

commitment to workers' rights in the trade union movement.

Retired General Colin Powell, the youngest Chief of Staff

of the United States Armed Forces and former United States

Secretary of State, was blessed by having a Jamaican mother

and father. Minister Louis Farrakhan, leader of the powerful

and influential Nation of Islam, traces his roots to the tiny

Caribbean island of St. Kitts. And the legendary Malcolm X's

mother came from the revolutionary island of Grenada, while

his father was a Jamaican.

Today, New York is home to a little over two million

Caribbean-Americans and while

there is still some way to go, Caribbean-Americans have

prospered and excelled. Indeed the impressive list of

achievements reflects strong and bold strides in every area

in the fight for social and economic justice. Caribbean-

Americans have partnered with African-Americans in forging a

common understanding and a need to work in each other's

interests. Not only that, Caribbean-Americans have reached

out to other immigrant communities to broaden the base of the

socio-economic and political struggle.

This natural dynamic has spawned the likes of Congresswoman

Yvette Clarke, Assemblyman Nick Perry, Former City

Councilwoman Una Clarke, Councilman Dr. Kendall B. Stewart,

deceased Assemblywoman Pauline Rhodd Cummings, former City

Councilman Rev. Lloyd Henry and State Senator John Sampson,

in the present political arena. Social and educational

interaction has produced Nobel Prize winner, the St. Lucian

playwright Derek Walcott, the novelist Paulie Marshall, the

basketball stars, Patrick Ewing and Tim Duncan and many, many

others.

So this record of not remaining aloof from the fracas that

is American life and politics is clearly outlined in Black

historical records. Caribbean-Americans have also had to

contend with similar problems faced by African-Americans, and

then some more. They have had to deal with the problems of

racism and discrimination. They have been used as handy

scapegoats when opportunistic politicians needed a vulnerable

group of people to beat up on. And they have been used as an

unwitting tool against each other in the devious tactic of

divide, rule and conquer.

Recent problems of having to come to grips with a

horrendous xenophobic climate and some very draconian

immigration laws which all but say to immigrants, ``You are

not welcomed here,'' has literally placed this community

under siege. And compounding these problems is the pervasive

nature of neo-racism which hits all Blacks--not only

Caribbean-Americans. For many Caribbean-Americans, like their

African-American brothers and sisters, education is the key

to liberation and thousands have taken advantage of these

opportunities in the United States.

They have succeeded despite the constant changing of the

rules and the shifting of the bar to perpetuate a program of

exclusion.

The Caribbean-American contribution to Black and American

history is a saga of struggle, dedication and commitment to

success. Caribbean-Americans have defied all odds and

surmounted every obstacle along the way.

They have formed alliances and forged new partnerships to

defend and protect common interests.

They have brought their political savviness to the Black

liberation struggle. And they have made America richer for

the experience.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 98 honoring the life and achievements of the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior and reaffirming the continued commitment of the House of Representatives to ensuring peace in the Sudan.

Born in 1945 to a poor family in Wagkulei village in Sudan, Dr. Garang was orphaned by the age of ten. Described as charismatic and a natural leader, he joined the first Sudanese civil war in 1962 but, because of his youth, was encouraged to pursue his education. After obtaining a B.A. in economics in 1969 from Grinnell College, an M.A. and Ph.D. from Iowa State University and studying East African agricultural economics as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow at the University of Dar es Salaam he returned home to join the Sudanese rebels.

A professional military man, Dr. Garang quickly rose through the ranks of the Sudanese military, which he joined following the Addis Ababa agreement of 1972. Peter Moszynski, a writer and aid worker who covered the Sudanese war, describes Dr. Garang as ``an expert in survival: someone who knew how to bend with the wind yet maintain his political objectives, someone who knew how to seem all things to all men.'' This description not only captures the enigmatic nature of a man who remained at the center of guerrilla warfare for more than 20 years, but also explains how Dr. Garang became the undisputed leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A). Committed to obtaining a just peace for his people he worked tirelessly and diligently to build support for a new Sudan, one that would be multi- ethnic, multi-religious, democratic and above all, united.

Dr. Garang was instrumental in the passage of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed by the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A in 2005, which gave southern Sudan the right to self determination and pushed for unity between the North and South. This Peace Agreement is representative of Dr. Garang's vision for a united Sudan, a Sudan committed to equity, democracy and peace.

As we continue to work toward ending the genocide throughout the region it is imperative that we remember the work and life of Dr. Garang. A man of true conviction and unfaltering courage; a man who believed, as I do, that unity, peace and democracy are achievable in the Sudan.

Madam Speaker. I rise today to recognize International Women's Day and to enter into the Record an article by Edith M. Lederer appearing today in the Washington Post, entitled ``U.N. Seeks End to Violence Against Girls.''

Throughout the world, violence against women appears to be acceptable. According to a 1997 World Health Organization study, in her lifetime, one in five women will be a victim of rape or an attempted rape. A separate 2003 report has shown that 147 women are raped every day in South Africa. According to the same study, in the U.S. a woman is raped every 90 seconds.

Darfur presents one of the most extreme examples of violence against women in the world. Currently, rape is used systematically against women in this region of Sudan. While it is impossible to know exactly how many women have been victims of sexual violence since the armed conflict began; however, it is believed that thousands of women have been raped, many multiple times. The devastating effects of rape are ever lasting. Victims are pariahs in their families and their communities. Women, in the Sudan, and in many places throughout the world cannot file complaints against their attackers because no one cares or takes the time to listen.

Sexual violence against women is not limited to the Sudan. Since the conflict in Cote d'Ivoire began in 2002, thousands of women and girls have become victims of widespread, systematic rape committed by combatant forces or their civilian allies. Many women have been sexually tortured, gang-raped or abducted and reduced to sexual slavery by combatants. These women have little recourse or access to health care, counseling or other support services.

The single most important factor that allows violence against women to persist, whether in times of peace or war, is the fact that those who attack and rape women know that they can get away with it. I support International Women's Day and its efforts to bring much needed attention to this critical issue.

[From the Associated Press, Mar. 8, 2007]

U.N. Seeks End to Violence Against Girls

(By Edith M. Lederer)

United Nations.--On the eve of International Women's Day,

the U.N. Security Council called Wednesday for an end to the

``pervasive violence'' against girls and women during armed

conflicts and demanded that the perpetrators be punished.

The council reiterated ``its utmost condemnation'' of the

killing, maiming, sexual abuse, abduction and trafficking of

girls and women and called on all warring parties to protect

them, especially from rape and other forms of sexual

violence.

In a presidential statement read at a formal meeting, the

council emphasized the responsibility of all 192 U.N. member

states ``to put an end to impunity and to prosecute those

responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war

crimes including those relating to sexual and other violence

against women and girls.''

The theme of International Women's Day on Thursday and the

two-week meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women

that ends Friday is discrimination and violence against

girls--and ending the impunity for perpetrators.

Rachel Mayanja, the special adviser to Secretary-General

Ban Ki-moon on gender issues and the advancement of women,

told a news conference that girls and women are subjected to

violence every day in every country--and the violence

``transcends politics, culture and religion, race, class,

income and age.

``In order to eliminate violence against women and girls,

we must take swift and concerted action to eradicate all

forms of discrimination against them, and ensure women's

equality with men,'' she said.

Noeleen Heyzer, executive director of the U.N. Development

Fund for Women, said the U.N. Trust Fund to End Violence

Against Women has granted more than $13 million to more than

230 initiatives in more than 100 countries over the last 10

years and demonstrated ``that ending violence against women

is possible.''

``It is a pandemic that can be stopped . . . given the

necessary political will and resources,'' she said.

Heyzer said currently 89 countries have legislative

provisions on domestic violence, 104 countries have made

marital rape a crime, 90 countries have provisions against

sexual harassment, and 93 states prohibit trafficking of

women and men.

The number of countries adopting legislation against

violence is growing, she said, but implementation of the laws

``is often insufficient.''

Heyzer urged ``a real increase in resources if we are to

end impunity,'' including nearly tripling the trust fund's

annual budget from the current $3.5 million to $10 million.

In Wednesday's statement, the Security Council also urged

the secretary-general to appoint more women as top envoys in

U.N. peacekeeping and peace-building missions, in decision-

making positions in U.N. field operations, and especially

among military observers, civilian police, human rights and

humanitarian staff.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 162, recognizing the contributions of the Negro Baseball Leagues and their players for their achievements, dedication and sacrifices to baseball and the Nation.

During the late 1800s, despite numerous attempts, viable, professional leagues, with players of color, had difficulty growing into large professional enterprises. The Negro Baseball League grew out of both necessity, as segregation prevented players of color from participating in organized leagues, such as the National Association of Base Ball Players, which banned black athletes, and a love for the game of baseball. During these times, although few black players played alongside white players most were subjected to regional prejudices and bans preventing black players from playing, lodging or eating in segregated establishments.

In the years following the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era, black baseball emerged as a viable and exciting enterprise in the East and Mid-Atlantic states. One of the first baseball games between two all-black teams was held in September 1860 in Hoboken, New Jersey. In the years that followed, black teams played one another when they could, through informal networks. In the early 1880s there were some 200 all-black independent teams that played one another throughout the country. It would take the collaboration of three men: John W. ``Bud'' Fowler, one of the first known professional black baseball players; Moses ``Fleetwood'' Walker and Frank Grant to organize these teams in what became known as the Negro League.

The first all-black professional team was formed in 1885, when the Babylon Black Panthers was sponsored by a white businessman from Trenton, New Jersey. Renamed the Cuban Giants, the team, along with 10 others, formed the first Negro League, called the southern League of Base Ballists. The league was a commercial success and by the end of World War I black baseball had become the premier entertainment attraction for urban black populations. In 1920, under the leadership of Andrew ``Rube'' Foster, owner of the Chicago American Giants, the disparate black leagues of the National Negro League was formed.

Throughout the history of the Negro League players filled stands, electrified fans and performed athletic feats that were previously unimaginable. The skills, spirit and dedication of players not only contributed to the viability of all-black teams but also helped integrate the sport of baseball. Players like Jackie Robinson, the first black player to play in the major league, Larry Doby, Leroy ``Satchel'' Paige and so many others found their start in the Negro League and without the Negro League baseball might not be the consummate American sport it is today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my full support for use of the Capitol Rotunda for the Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony. The bill to award the Gold Medal passed unanimously on February 28, 2006 with bipartisan support. This was a long time coming. The Tuskegee Airmen, along with their families and friends are very happy that they will finally receive the highest honor this great body can award. The President will present the Gold Medal on March 29, 2007. Other dignitaries and leaders will also be present to witness this very historical event.

The Tuskegee Airmen are a distinguished group of World War II African American veterans who fought against segregation and discrimination at home and the enemy abroad. Their fight was with dignity, steadfastness, and pride. After completing training in Tuskegee, Alabama, they bravely headed to Europe to defend their country. They completed 15,500 missions, destroyed 260 enemy aircraft, sank 1 enemy destroyer, and demolished numerous enemy installations. During their service, the Airmen earned 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 744 Air Medals, 8 Purple Hearts, and 14 Bronze Stars. That is remarkable.

The Tuskegee Airmen were trailblazers and paved the way for other African Americans to serve and defend the U.S. Their exemplary work and commitment demonstrated once again that African Americans were not only highly capable, but willing to serve and die for freedom. As a Korean war veteran, I'm honored to have benefited from their courage and service to the military and the Nation.

As I express my support for using the Capitol Rotunda to honor great men who have served our country, I must pay honor to the men and women who are on the battlefield today. We must never forget their immeasurable sacrifices. I urge you to support this resolution and to keep our troops and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Black History Month and to spotlight the success of William Tell, Chairman and CEO of 1 Source Consulting Inc. a strategic consulting firm, which provides business strategy and IT solutions. Tell recently made history by acquiring a seven-year contract from the Department of Energy. Tell, whose larger clients include Homeland Security Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Justice Department and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of Information Technology, partnered with RS Information Systems Inc to secure the $1.4 billion government contract, the largest contract awarded to a small business.

Beyond a commitment to excellence in the business world Tell maintains a commitment to the community to enriching the lives of others, particularly African Americans. In September 2006, 1 Source Consulting Inc. partnered with San Diego Charger Shawne Merriman, to donate $10,000 to the Frederick Douglass High School Football Program. The company has also assisted in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and partnered with Goodwill.

William Tell is a living testament to the ingenuity and acumen of black business leaders everywhere. His accomplishments should be celebrated in the spirit of remembering the rich legacy of African American leaders everywhere.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the life of Dorothy Ann Willis Richards, and in full support of H.R. 42-- legislation recognizing the extraordinary contributions Ann Richards made to the great state of Texas and American public life.

Ann Richards had a zest for life that was evident and infectious. She was a wonderful public speaker and found ways to intimately connect with real people by tackling difficult issues that affected their everyday lives. Ann was tremendously tenacious but possessed a quick wit. She was well known for her zingy-one-liners and warm sense of humor.

Committed to issues of equity and inclusion, Ann spent much of her life championing causes related to the marginalization of women and minorities in particular. She dedicated herself to increasing the role of women in politics. Ann organized training sessions throughout Texas designed to empower women in politics and succeeded in improving the visibility of women in the National Democratic Party. Aim became the Governor of Texas in 1991 and continued to champion the inclusion of all people in the political process.

While in office, Ann oversaw a program of economic revitalization that grew the state's economy. As governor, Ann appointed Zan W. Holmes Jr., the first African-American appointed to the University of Texas Board of Regents; she redirected revenue from the state lottery to a school fund to support public education; and launched the Robin Hood plan, an attempt to equalize funding across school districts. Through these measures, Ann was successful in changing the ways that both Texas and our country thought about and treated women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and members of the Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, and Bisexual communities. Ann once remarked that she entered politics to help those who were often ignored by the Texas' male dominated establishment.

It is with great pride that I rise in support of H.R. 42 and recognize, before all, the contributions of a wonderful woman, committed leader and champion for all.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the Bicentennial of the British Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and enter into the record an article from the Africana Heritage newsletter, published by the Schomburg Center for the Research in Black History and Culture entitled ``Bicentennial of the American and British Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. ``

On March 25, 1807, the British Parliament passed the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act. This act outlawed slave trading, granted authority to the British Royal Navy to search and seize ships, and also required payment for the freedom of slaves. This act also was a pivotal piece of legislation and eventually contributed to the full abolishment of slavery in Great Britain and in the United States.

This bicentennial offers an opportunity, for people around the world, to remember the historical significance of the slave trade and slavery as a whole. We must never forget the immeasurable human cost of slavery or the aftermath that still lingers today. Considerable progress has been made toward equality and to repair the damage caused by the British institution of slavery, but work still needs to be done in the area of race relations for people of African descent in the U.S. and abroad. The bicentennial provides us an opportunity to remember the history of our past while working toward equality today.

In March of 2007, Great Britain will begin a year long commemoration of the bicentennial in several ways. Approximately $37.5 million has been allocated for projects. Specifically, the government is funding projects that involve education on the history of the transatlantic slave trade in schools and communities. The dedication of funding to educate people about the Trans-Atlantic slave trade is noteworthy. I applaud Great Britain for their efforts and look forward to the planning of similar events in the United States during the coming year.

Bicentennial of the American and British Abolition of the Trans-

Atlantic Slave Trade

Two hundred years ago, on March 3, 1807, President Thomas

Jefferson signed into act a bill approved by Congress the day

before ``to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port

or place within the jurisdiction of the United States.'' A

few weeks later, on the 25th, the British House of Lords

passed The Slave Trade Abolition Bill. In neither country did

new legislation signify the immediate end of the

international slave trade. Twenty years earlier, the

Constitution of the United States (article I, section 9) had

clearly spelled out that it could not be banned before 1808,

and it was not until January 1, 1808 that the American and

British acts went into effect.

Nevertheless, the deportation of Africans continued:

legally to Brazil, and the French and Spanish colonies; and

illegally to the United States and the British West Indies.

Of the 12.5 million men, women, and children uprooted by the

trans-Atlantic slave trade--93 percent towards South America

and the Caribbean--3.5 million were transported between 1801

and 1867.

Throughout 2007, the bicentennial of the abolition of the

international slave trade will be commemorated in Great

Britain--the largest slave trading country with more than 40

percent of the deportations--and Anglophone Caribbean

countries with exhibitions, conferences, and other

activities. About $37.5 million have been awarded in Great

Britain to various projects. The American commemoration will

take place in 2008.

Major Manifestations of the Bicentennial in Great Britain:

Bristol

Between 1698 and 1807, Bristol sent 2,000 slave ships to

Africa. To commemorate the city's involvement in the slave

trade, The Bristol Industrial Museum will propose an

exhibition on the slave trade and its abolition. The British

Empire and Commonwealth Museum's exhibition ``Breaking the

Chains'' will open on February 15 and run for two years.

Hull

The Wilberforce House Museum and the Wilberforce Institute

will develop and update their slavery and abolition

collections. The University of Hull will organize a

conference, ``Slavery: Unfinished Business,'' on May 16-18.

Liverpool

The International Slavery Museum will open on August 23 in

the city that deported 1.5 million Africans in 5,000 voyages

(300 to North America), making it the first slave-trading

port in Europe.

London

The Museum of London and The Museum in Docklands will

present exhibitions on the role of London in the slave trade.

The city--second in Europe after Bristol--sent more than

2,700 slave ships to Africa.

The Victoria and Albert Museum will have two exhibitions

starting on February 20, on the impact and legacy of slavery

on art.

Manchester

A partnership of 11 organizations will examine the

economic, cultural, and social effects of the slave trade on

Great Britain beyond the port cities in a wide-ranging

project called ``Revealing Histories.''

Portsmouth

The Royal Naval Museum will show an exhibition on the role

of the Royal Navy's Africa Squadron in the repression of the

transatlantic slave trade.

Warwick

A conference, ``Free at Last? Commemorating the

Bicentennial Anniversary of the Abolition of the British

Slave Trade,'' will take place from July 11 to 13.

York

The University of York will present a conference on April

12-14, ``Abolitions, 1807-2007: Ending the Slave Trade in the

Atlantic World.''

Conference in Ghana

From August 8th to the 12th, the Omohundro Institute of

Early American History and Culture (Virginia), UNESCO, the

Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (Yale), the W.

E. B. Du Bois Institute (Harvard), the Reed Foundation, and

the Wilberforce Institute will convene an international

conference, ``The bloody Writing is for ever torn': Domestic

and International Consequences of the First Governmental

Efforts to Abolish the Atlantic Slave Trade.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture for hosting the 80th Anniversary Africana Heritage Awards Gala, in which 13 living legends were honored and to enter into the record an article from the Africana Heritage newsletter entitled ``80th Anniversary Gala Pays Tribute to 13 Living Legends.''

On October 6, 2006, the Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture, which is a community treasure, recognized and honored Black achievement by paying tribute to living legends Maya Angelou, Chinua Achebe, Clarence Avant, Harry Belafonte, Elizabeth Catlett, Aime Cesaire, Ruby Dee, John Hope Franklin, William Greaves, Ernest Kaiser, Don Newcombe, Herman J. Russell, and Percy Sutton. The legends have made significant contributions to African American history and culture in areas such as law, business, acting, music, filmmaking, poetry, and sports. Each honoree was presented with a Heritage Award statuette. I was honored to present an award to Percy Sutton.

The well organized gala was attended by over 1,000 people. Honorees and guest enjoyed music and poetry performed by the Eli Fountain Percussion Discussion Ensemble, Angelique Kidjo, Kaissa, Kayo, Avery Brooks, and Phylicia Rashad. Dinner was also served. The gala marked a historical moment for the Schomberg Center. The honorary chairs for the gala including myself were President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, David Dinkins, Catherine C. Marron, and Paul LeClerc.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, which is located in Harlem, is a part of the New York Public Library. It was named after black scholar Arturo Alfonso Schomburg in 1940 and in 1972 was designated as a Research Library within the New York Public Library.

It contains an immeasurable wealth of information in the form of manuscripts, rare books, archives, art, photographs, oral history recordings, motion pictures, and videotapes relative to global African and African diasporan experiences.

I have introduced legislation, H. Con. Res. 57, to recognize the Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture for educating the people of the United States about the African-American migration experience, and for other purposes.

[From the African Heritage Newsletter]

80th Anniversary Gala Pays Tribute to 13 Living Legends

Legends came to life for the nearly one thousand guests

gathered at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln

Center for the Schomburg Center's 80th Anniversary Africana

Heritage Awards Gala, on Friday, October 6, 2006. Chaired by

Billye S. Aaron and Sherry B. Bronfman, the Gala Honorary

Chairs included President William Jefferson Clinton, Senator

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Congressman Charles B. Rangel, The

Honorable David N. Dinkins, Chairman of the Board, The New

York Public Library Catherine C. Marron, and President and

CEO, The New York Public Library Dr. Paul LeClerc.

One of the most memorable evenings in the Center and New

York's cultural history, the event honored an extraordinary

group of 13 individuals, whose careers and lives have had an

immeasurable impact on African-American and American culture.

The honorees included author, poet, dancer, actress, and

director, Maya Angelou; author and scholar, Chinua Achebe;

music executive and producer, Clarence Avant; singer, actor,

and activist, Harry Belafonte; sculptress and printmaker,

Elizabeth Catlett; author, poet, and playwright, Aime

Cesaire; actress, writer, activist, Ruby Dee; historian and

author, John Hope Franklin; filmmaker and producer, William

Greaves; librarian, bibliographer, and editor, Ernest Kaiser;

athlete and community leader, Don Newcombe; entrepreneur and

civic leader, Herman J. Russell; and lawyer, activist,

political and communications leader, Percy Sutton.

The evening began with a VIP reception at the Mandarin

Oriental Hotel for the award recipients and major donors, and

continued at the Frederick P. Rose Hall with: a cocktail

reception in the Atrium, tribute program in The Rose Theater,

and a post-tribute dinner in the Allen Room. At the Mandarin,

many of the honorees gathered and mingled with distinguished

guests including the Gala Co-Chairs Billye Aaron and Sherry

Bronfman; Honorary Chairs Congressman Charles B. Rangel and

The Honorable David N. Dinkins; and Vice Chairs Hank Aaron,

Joyce Dinkins, Evem Cooper Epps, president of the UPS

Foundation and vice president of its Corporate Relations,

Ingrid Saunders Jones, senior vice president of The Coca-Cola

Company and chair of the Coca-Cola Foundation, and The

Honorable Andrew J. Young; along with New York City Council

Speaker Christine Quinn, President and CEO of Major League

Baseball Bob DuPuy, actor Danny Glover, and author Walter

Mosley. Entertained by Saleem Waters, the group also included

poet Sonia Sanchez, author Walter Mosley, NYU Professor

Manthia Diawara, Essence Magazine Editorial Director Susan L.

Taylor, and New York Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright.

The tribute program in the Rose Theater began with a

prelude of songs spanning 80 years to mirror the center's and

the honorees' lifetimes by Eli Fountain Percussion Discussion

Ensemble, featuring musicians Lyndon Achee, Alex Blake, Brian

Carrot, Miles Dalto, Roland Guerreo, Phoenix Rivera, William

Smith, Marc Taylor, and special guest artist Patato Valdez on

the congas. Program hosts, actors Avery Brooks

and Phylicia Rashad, greeted the audience followed by

welcomes and acknowledgements by Howard Dodson and David

Ferriero and Co-Chairs Billye Aaron and Sherry Bronfinan.

Author and spoken word artist Kayo presented the first

performance tribute to the honorees, ``I Can Move

Mountains.'' The award presenters gave biographical sketches

and read the citation for each honoree before presenting the

award statuettes with the assistance of four students from

the Schomburg Center/New York Life Junior Scholars

Program. The audience paid tribute to each recipient with

a standing ovation. The first awards were presented to

Ernest Kaiser by Schomburg Chief Howard Dodson; William

Greaves by President of the Black Filmmaker Foundation

Warrington Hudlin; Ruby Dee by actress Lynn Whitfield; and

Harry Belafonte by Sherry Bronfman and Danny Glover. West

African singer Angelique Kidjo then performed a special

song in honor of the Africana Heritage Award recipients.

The second set of awards were presented to Don Newcombe by

Hank Aaron and Bob DuPuy; Clarence Avant by Billye Aaron;

Herman Russell by Ingrid Saunders Jones; and Percy Sutton

by Charles Rangel and David Dinkins. Avery Brooks

performed Sterling Brown's poem ``Strong Men'' followed by

Percussion Discussion, which kept the audience excited

throughout the evening with their distinct and diverse

sound.

The third and final set of honorees to receive statuettes

were Elizabeth Catlett by Evern Cooper Epps and David

Driskell, Dean of African-American Art Historians; John Hope

Franklin by Howard Dodson; Aime Cesaire by Walter Mosley;

Maya Angelou by Andrew Young; and Chinua Achebe by Manthia

Diawara, Professor of Comparative Literature and Film and

Director of Africana Studies and the Institute of African

American Affairs at New York University. The final

performance tributes were Phylicia Rashad's reading of Maya

Angelou's ``Phenomenal Woman,'' and a musical selection by

vocalist Kaissa, from Cameroon.

After the tribute program, the honorees and major donors

enjoyed dinner in the Allen Room. Awaiting them was a

breathtaking view of New York City from the room's dramatic

glass wall facing Broadway and Central Park, allowing guests

a remarkable--but rare view of the City's streetscape. Tables

with lavender rose centerpieces designed by Sandra Parks on

royal blue overlays designed by David Fleming, along with

music by Saleem Waters added to the extraordinary ambience.

The Gala closed with words of appreciation from Howard

Dodson, marking one of the most historical moments in the

history of the Schomburg Center.

Madam Speaker, I rise today, on this 28th of February, to join with the hundreds of thousands of Dominican residents of my congressional district and the millions of Dominicans around the world in celebrating the 163rd anniversary of their motherland's independence.

The road to freedom and independence is not perfect. It can be just as hard, if not harder, to maintain it as it was to secure it. The Dominican people know this lesson first-hand. Their history includes two wars of independence--first from Haiti in 1844 and then from Spain in 1865--as well as struggles against dictators and oppressive governments. And while self-determination has produced a proud nation, various problems still exist, particularly those that stem from poverty and economic despair.

Yet today is a day that all Dominicans are united in celebrating, regardless of their political affiliations. It is a day that we remember the ideals of the Nation, thankful that there is still hope of a better future. It is a day to honor the sacrifices of our heroes in the only appropriate way--by rededicating ourselves to a more just land for all residents, at home and abroad.

The Dominican Republic has been, and always will be, a land rich in history and culture. The spirit of its people has energized our community, our city and our Nation. So it gives me great pride to congratulate Dominicans around the world on their Independence Day. Any day that we can take to celebrate and rededicate ourselves to freedom and justice is not just a good one, but a necessary one.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the wonderful work done by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in hosting the Liberia Private Sector Investment Forum, a part of a collective effort to ensure debt relief and economic revitalization for Liberia.

Now is a time for optimism in Liberia. Following 14 years of boorish dictatorship and ravenous civil conflict, Liberia has the opportunity to restore democracy, economic stability and social harmony. With the recent election of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa's first female head of state, Liberia is well-positioned to step out of the shadow of a history of violence and destruction; however, Liberia continues to be bound to its past in the form of severe debt accrued over the years.

It is important for us all to follow Secretary Rice's example and encourage our President to forgive Liberia of its debt in full. Liberia simply cannot pay its debt to the United States in particular; a debt incurred when civil war ensued following the forceful ascension to power by Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor. A recent United Nations development report on Liberia found that more than 85% of the population is unemployed; nearly 75% of the population miserably subsist on less than $1 per day. A third of the population is illiterate, almost 10% suffer from HIV and AIDS and life expectancy hovers somewhere around 50 years of age. Liberia's economy and infrastructure was nearly demolished during decades of fighting and tyranny. Those living in Liberia today still have limited access to clean water and electricity. It will take tremendous resources to rebuild schools, roads and power grids; however, many of Liberia's existing resources are required to repay the enormous debt burden.

The fiscal and structural resources necessary to repair a country whose economy

and social fabric have been torn apart due to enduring violence, war that persisted for more than a decade, and debt incurred by misguided and corrupt leaders are tremendous. Moreover, establishing institutions and systems designed to ensure that a country will not fall back into a cycle of indebtedness, while simultaneously attempting to repay an existing debt, is an extremely lofty task. In Liberia debt and monetary conditions are debased and the demands of an increasingly global market economy continue to threaten the fragile base upon which Liberia's current economy stands. More than simply being unable to pay back the debt owed to other countries, unsustainable debt will perpetuate Liberia's inability to achieve economic independence, social harmony, or to realize a truly democratic state, now or in the future.

I commend Secretary Rice for her effort to bring much needed relief to the people of Liberia; her participation in the Liberia Partners' Forum as well as her continued work in the region serves as a shining example for us all. Let us not forget the work that remains to be done in helping to rebuild Liberia. Let us begin by calling for complete debt forgiveness.