Date: 1986-02-19
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. .I would like to commend the gentleman from Ohio and the members of the Congressional Black Caucus for sponsoring this special order. . In February of each year we pause to note the role of blacks in the history of this country. In anticipation of the day when the contributions made by blacks will be fully recognized in the collective history of the United States. I join in todays special order to bring to the attention of my colleagues a few of the contributions made by blacks in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The U.S. Virgin Islands has a predominantly black population. We are extremely proud of our heritage and the contributions that we have made at home. on the mainland and around the world. I first call to mind Edward Wilmoth Blyden. who left the Virgin Islands to go to school on the mainland. Disillusioned with the racism he found there. Blyden went on to Liberia where he served as professor and president of Liberia College. Mr. Blyden became Liberias Secretary of State and its Minister of the Interior.. He also served as that countrys Ambassador to the Court of St. James. a post he held in Another Virgin Islander. Alton Adams. Sr.. was the first black Navy bandmaster in the United States. He served during World War I as part of the first black unit allowed to serve in this countrys Navy. Terence Todman is U.S. Ambassador to Denmark. Prior to his current post. this Virgin Islander served as the U.S. Ambassador to Spain. In that position. Ambassador Todman negotiated the first postFranco treaty between this country and Spain. He is the top ranking black diplomat at the Department of State. recently referred to by the Deputy Under Secretary "the very best we have to offer in the Foreign Service of the United States." In 1969. when Ambassador Todman was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Chad. he was the youngest Ambassador ever appointed up to that point in our history. Enid Baa is responsible for the development of the Virgin Islands library service. including the effort made to preserve Virgin Islands history and culture. This contribution is particularly significant given the purpose of black history month. In addition to her post as Librarian to the Virgin Islands. Ms. Baa has served as Librarian at the United Nations. the Caribbean Organization and the New York Public Library. These as well as efforts made by other black Americans cannot and should not go unnoticed. We recently celebrated the first national holiday for the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.. but our efforts to ensure that black Americans will continue to make significant contributions to this country must never cease. That is why I am saddened by the Presidents position on Affirmative Action. Without a commitment by the Federal Government and others to provide black Americans with an equal and fair opportunity to education. jobs. and other programs. none of the vast achievements that we have seen so far would not have been possible. Now that we have come this far. this is no time to turn back and reverse the positive changes that Affirmative Action Programs have made on the state of black America. I therefore urge the President to reevaluate his position on this issue. It will certainly be to his credit and that of all America when we as a nation can fully embrace the efforts of all black Americans.