Sanford Bishop: “by learning about the good and the bad things that happened in our past, we gain a deeper understanding about how to…”

“by learning about the good and the bad things that happened in our past, we gain a deeper understanding about how to correct the bad and preserve and strengthen the good. That is why the study of history is important. It tells us about the past and it guides us to a better future, for he who understands his past controls his future. Black History Month is important for just this reason. I commend the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) and the members of the Congressional Black Caucus for arranging tonight's Special Order, and I thank all of our colleagues for their support and for their participation. At a time when our country is intensely focused on national security, I will talk about some of the many African American contributions to our Nation's safety and well-being. Many have lost their lives in combat. They are part of a long tradition of service and sacrifice. As the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) pointed out, that goes back to the Revolutionary War when more than 5,000 blacks served on the front lines. By World War II, with black leaders calling on black citizens to fight fascism abroad and racism at home, more than a fifth of our men and women in uniform were, in fact, African American. Today, more than ever, blacks are at the forefront of defending the Nation, from the lower ranks to the top echelons of military leadership. One of the trailblazers was Henry O. Flipper, the first black graduate of West Point.”