Clyburn Celebrates Black History Month
Monday, February 2, 2009
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WASHINGTON, DC—House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today released the following statement in celebration of Black History Month.
“As we celebrate this year’s Black History Month and the historic inauguration of our 44th President, let us honor the shoulders Barack Obama stands upon—the countless African-Americans whose sacrifices and contributions made the American dream possible. The dream of a young boy with a mother from Kansas and a Father from Kenya, or the dream of a beautician’s son growing up in the segregated south, both aspiring to make their mark on the world, despite the cynics saying it couldn’t be done. It is because of their many sacrifices that President Obama’s story, or my story, is even possible.
“It is with great humility that we reflect on the courageous actions of people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, or Harry and Eliza Briggs from Clarendon County, South Carolina, the plaintiffs in the first of five cases that were combined to become the famous Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education. Its these people, as well as millions of unknown individuals, whose willingness to stand strong in the face of adversity has provided countless freedoms and opportunities to all Americans, regardless of circumstance.
“Despite all of our advancements, however, we are still faced with crumbling schools, inaccessible healthcare, and employment inequities. Today, as we turn our attention toward a struggling economy, it is important that we come together as a nation to continue the fight for equal rights for Americans of all backgrounds and persuations.”
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