Kendrick Meek: “I do not think that every Member of Congress understands how far we have come, the 39 African American members of the…”

“I do not think that every Member of Congress understands how far we have come, the 39 African American members of the Congress. They just accept us as being knowledgeable colleagues. They accept us as being friends and many of us as neighbors. I do not think many of them realize the struggle that got us here and the struggle that still continues in this country for equality of opportunity for African Americans. Mr. Speaker, it is our duty every day of the year to remind people about this experience and where we are going from here and what we must do. Mr. Speaker, I think it was Martin Luther King who said that we do not have time, it has to happen now, we cannot keep putting it off by saying let us push this back on the back burner, but let us talk about it now. Mr. Speaker, I think about men like former Congressman Robert Elliott, who served in Congress from 1842 to 1884. He was one of the 22 African Americans to serve in Congress during the Reconstruction. Mr. Elliott's last term in the Congress was highlighted by his eloquent support of a civil rights bill designed to secure equality for and prohibit discrimination against African Americans in public places. Mr. Speaker, think of it, it is ironic that we are still fighting that battle.”