Political Quotes

“Mr President, I rise to acknowledge the great contributions of Colorado's African-American community in celebration of Black History Month. Colorado's African-American community has a long history in our State. From the days of its settlement to modern times, Colorado has benefited from the Black community's hard work and dedication to making Colorado a better place to live. In contemporary times, we often forget about the diversity of settlers that moved West during the expansion of the United States. But, Black settlers played an active and productive role in the formation of the American West. Many of these settlers found their freedom by moving West and became entrepreneurs, traders, and leaders that helped in the formation of Colorado as a territory and State. Names of early African-American westerners, such as James Beckwourth and ``Aunt'' Clara Brown, echo through Colorado history. James Beckwourth was a true frontiersman, leading expeditions into Colorado's Rocky Mountains in the 1820s and returning later in the 1830s to serve at Fort Vasquez near Denver. In the 1840s, he cofounded a fort and settlement named Pueblo so he could enter the lucrative trade business along the Santa Fe Trail. This settlement eventually became the city of Pueblo and still serves as a commercial hub for southeast Colorado. ``Aunt'' Clara Brown is another strong African-American figure who fled slavery to establish an independent life in the West.…”