Rep. Corrine Brown: “Mr. Speaker, first of all, once again I want to thank the chairman for his help in moving this bill forward with the…”

“Mr. Speaker, first of all, once again I want to thank the chairman for his help in moving this bill forward with the amendment and his kind words about Mrs. Eddie Mae Steward. Eddie Mae Steward was my friend, a community leader, and single-handedly launched the effort that led to the court-ordered desegregation in Duval County's public schools. She was the first female president of the Jacksonville branch of the NAACP and served as the State NAACP president from 1973 to 1974. She also served as the secretary of the Duval County Democratic Executive Committee. Mrs. Steward was a graduate of Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, and she was truly a dedicated civil rights activist. It has been said that the face of the civil rights movement in Jacksonville belongs to Eddie Mae Steward. She single-handedly took on the fight for decent school accommodations for children attending Boylan Haven, which was a three-story building declared by the Florida Times-Union as 'unfit by any standards as a place to send children to school.' Three weeks later, the school board backed down and the students were sent to another school. Much like those before her who struggled against the injustice of the status quo, she was referred to as a 'troublemaker.' However, it was fundamental fairness, strong principles, and the strength of her convictions that led her to become a courageous leader.”