Date: 1993-09-13
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I have sponsored H.R. 2223. which will name an existing Federal Building In my congressional dlstict for a great American and a great leader of the black community In Texas. When this legislation Is signed Into law. the building at 525 Griffin Street In Dallas. TX. will be named the A- Maceo Smith Federal Building. A. Mace Smith was an early leader of the black community in Dallas. He. earned dlstnction by fighting for civil rights while also leading the way for blacks to participate in the Texas economy. At the same time he worked tirelessly for racial harmony. A welleducated man. a Macao Smith graduated from Fisk University and New York University. In Dallas. he served as a board member of many distinguished organizations which have promoted racial and religious harmony. such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. the national. katemity. Alpha Phi Alpha. and the Dallas Chap ter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. In 1976 he was honored by the city of Dallas. which precleimed. "A. Maceo Smith Day." Utr~tunately. Mr. Smith departed this life on It was his efforts to integrate blacks into the business and political communities which have marked his importance. A. Maceo Smith helped create the Negro *Chamber of Commerce in the early 1930S and was an eatly organizer of black voters. He also founded the Progressive Votirs League. which successfully increased the participation of more blacks In the political process. It was through his involvement with the N.A.A.C.P. and Alpha Phi Alpha where Mr. Smith made some of his most lasting and im. portant contributions. As a leader of both. organizations at the local level. he helped form a mutually beneficial working relationship between the two. As a recognition of his success in working with Alpha Phi Alpha. He was elected national president in 1969. The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity i the oldest fraternity for black Amercan men based on scholarship. The fratemity proudly claims among its membership Adam Clayton Powelf. Thurgood Marshall. Robert Weaver. and Vernon Jordan. as well as many. many other black American scholars in all professions. Mr. Smiths leadership positions were Instrumentat when he moved to mend the extremely imbalanced racial situation which existed in Texas at the time. Among the injustices which he countered were a poll ta. the kiabl l of blacks to vote in primary efectlom. and uneven salaries for black and white teachers. It did net take Mr. Sknith long to bring together the Dallas community to respond to these injustices. In the 1930 ti. he was pert of a lawsuit which succesuly overtumed the poll t0X. In 1944. he was one of the leaders in the successfut campaign and lawsuit tor backs to secure the right to. vote in Temas pimary eleclons. In 1945. Mr. Smith organized plaintiffs to flea a lawsuit to equalize teaches salaries among whites and blacks. At the time. them was a significant dIfernce In to salmles which black teaclers were paid.. but Mr. Smith was successful in forcing the State of Texas to rectify this situaden It is particribrfv gratiyig that the Federal building which I intend to kwe rnmed lor Mr. Smith Incilds office spac et the DWerfn t of Housing ard Uan Deiopmer Mr. Smith was a longtime employee of HUOa total of 34 Vow of public service Pobably his most significant contribution at the agncy was his role as the Fair Housing Coordinator. where he began the process of desegregating Federal housing projects. During the days In which Mr. Smith served. he had a builtin Incentive to maintain the housing projects to the very best of his ability. You see. as a black man during the 1930s.. he was not even permitted to. have his office witt the rest of his Federal housing colleagues. Rather. he was forced to. run his office right out of the projects. Although A. Maceo Smith- died In 1977 at the age of 74. the purposeful manner in which he lived h life continues to benefit every black American. in Dallas. It is fitting that A. Mace Smith. a man who was first in many significant aspects. will be the first black American to have a Federal. office building named in his honor in t city of Dallas. W. Speaker. I am hopefX* that the Members of. this. Congress. wilt support my efforts to name this Federal building after an outstanding and distinguished American.