Date: 2000-02-29
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise to represent to citizens of the Thirtieth Congressional District to pay honor and tribute to scores of AfricanAmericans who have paved the way for the realization of the American dream. AfricanAmerican history is American history. Even before there was a United States. Crispus Attucks became the first American martyr when he was killed during the Boston Massacre of 1770. fighting against taxation without representation. Over 5.000 black Soldiers and sailors fought in the American Revolution. only to be told that they were only threefifths human when the Constitution was ratified. Africans transplanted to America endured centuries of oppression. beginning before they even set foot on the American shore. The middle passage was a terrible. often fatal voyage of slaves from Africa to the New World. Africans were herded like livestock into the lower decks of a ship. where they were shackled together in inhumane conditions. fed only substance portions. and thrown overboard in shark infested waters if they got sick. weak. or the weight of the ship was simply too heavy. Once here. they were subjected to every oppressive tactic known to man. from the spirit breaking submission demanded on the plantation. to the family breaking practice of slave breeding and trading. to the mind numbing laws forbidding slave education. Yet. even in the days when it seemed that "hope unborn had died". Africans in America reached amazing heights of achievement in all areas of endeavor. from science and medicine to politics and education. from Benjamin Banneker and Daniel Hale Williams to Shirley Chisholm and Martha Collins. Over stony roads. AfricanAmericans have trod over the obstacles to success. each time redefining the American Dream as they fought on to victory. I would like to take this special opportunity to highlight the enormous contribution to AfricanAmerican history. and thus. American history. by AfricanAmericans from Texas. and. in many cases. from my district. Maynard Jackson. who went on to become the first and one of the most successful mayors of Atlanta. was born in Dallas in 1938. As mayor of Atlanta. he laid the foundation for the new Souths centerpiece city by ensuring that all races were allowed to take part in Atlantas economic opportunity. "Blind" Lemon Jefferson used Dallas as a base to launch an extraordinary blues career. during which he made over 100 recordings of his intricate melodic rhythms and influenced countless artists. including B.B. King. Before Rafer Johnson went on to be a gold medalist and a world decathlon record holder. he also lived in Dallas. Dallas native Bobby Seale went on to lead tens of thousands of AfricanAmericans toward heightened political consciousness. Dallas served as a launching pad for James Farmer. the noted Congress of Racial Equality leader and winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. And as the first black mayor of Dallas. Mayor Ron Kirk continues to lead the city into unprecedented economic success. North Dallas has produced extraordinary AfricanAmericans. Dallas native Ernie Banks set records in baseball and was voted the "Greatest Chicago Cubs Player of All Time". Austin native Bill Picket was the first black working cowboy. and revolutionized the genre with his unique style of bulldogging. From my birthplace. Waco. TX native Monroe Majors became the first black to practice medicine west of the Rocky Mountains. and Jules Bledsoe changed the face of opera through his gr6undbreaking production. "Showboat." Madam Speaker. I have just scratched the surface of North Texas AfricanAmerican contributions to the American fabric. From Al Lipscomb. who led the fight to make Dallas elected officials more representative of the populace. to Royce West and John Wiley Price. who led the fight for justice in Dallas today. As I look to the dawn of a new century. I am proud to be a part of Americas esteemed legacy of AfricanAmerican achievement.