IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1474 

Commending Harry Belafonte for receiving the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil 

and Human Rights Award from the Leadership Conference on Civil 

and Human Rights. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 24, 2010 

Ms. RICHARDSON (for herself, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. RUSH, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. STARK, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. COHEN, Mr. MEEK of 

Florida, Ms. NORTON, Mr. WATT, and Mr. TOWNS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Commending Harry Belafonte for receiving the Hubert H. 

Humphrey Civil and Human Rights Award from the 

Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. 

Whereas the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human 

Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership 

of more than 200 national organizations to promote and 

protect the civil and human rights of all persons in the 

United States that, through advocacy and outreach to 

targeted constituencies, works toward the goal of a more 

open and just society—an America as good as its ideals; 

Whereas Hubert Humphrey’s deep commitment and dedication to social justice are legendary, because— 


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•HRES 1474 IH 

(1) he devoted his life to public service in the cause 

of equality; 

(2) elected mayor of Minneapolis in 1945, he quickly 

ascended to the national political scene; 

(3) addressing racial discrimination and anti-Semitism in Minneapolis in 1948, he was responsible for the 

city enacting the Nation’s first municipal fair employment legislation; 

(4) that same year, amid fierce debate on the direction of civil rights, he delivered a fiery speech at the 

Democratic National Convention and spurred the Democratic Party to add a civil rights plank to their platform; 

(5) from 1949–1964, he served from Minnesota as 

one of the Nation’s most distinguished Senators and was 

pivotal in the enactment of the 1964 Civil Rights Act 

calling its passage ‘‘one of the landmarks of my life’’; 

(6) elected vice president of the United States in 

1964, he continued his selfless advocacy for equality in 

a free, plural, and democratic society; 

(7) in 1971, he resumed his senatorial career, and 

in 1974 he introduced the ambitious Humphrey-Hawkins 

Full Employment and National Growth bill, the first attempt at full employment legislation, which eventually 

passed after his death in 1978; and 

(8) this final legislative achievement stood as a symbol of Humphrey’s undying commitment to the humanitarian goals of the New Deal; 

Whereas as a testament to Hubert Humphrey’s exemplary 

leadership on civil and human rights, the Hubert H. 

Humphrey Civil and Human Rights Award was established by The Leadership Conference in 1977; and 


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•HRES 1474 IH 

Whereas Harry Belafonte received the Hubert H. Humphrey 

Award because— 

(1) he is as well-known for his pursuit of social justice as he is for his artistic talent; 

(2) his initiatives in overturning racial barriers 

throughout society are highly acclaimed; 

(3) he served as a confidant to Dr. Martin Luther 

King, Jr., helped to organize the March on Washington 

in 1963, raised funds to free imprisoned civil rights protesters, and has been a powerful voice for voting rights; 

(4) as a result of his work as the driving force behind the 1985 ‘‘We Are the World’’ project, Mr. 

Belafonte was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador 

in 1987; 

(5) he was an outspoken opponent of Apartheid and 

is known for his longstanding advocacy for the people of 

Haiti; and 

(6) he remains a tireless advocate of human rights 

efforts in the United States and throughout the world: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives com2 mends Harry Belafonte for receiving the Hubert H. Hum3 phrey Civil and Human Rights Award on Wednesday, May 

4 12, 2010, from the Leadership Conference on Civil and 

5 Human Rights. 

Æ 


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