Elijah Cummings: “I rise today in my role as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus for the 108th Congress to talk about Black History…”

“I rise today in my role as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus for the 108th Congress to talk about Black History Month and the state of our union for Americans of color. Throughout the month, we should all take a moment to remember the heroes whose legacies of service have shaped this great country, America. We should remember Rosa Parks, a leading force behind the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott. Activist Fannie Lou Hamer, the daughter of sharecroppers who fought for African American suffrage in Mississippi. Dr. Charles Drew, whose blood plasma research has saved millions of lives. Their bravery and sacrifice must not be forgotten. While we celebrate the past, we also should honor the African American women and men who are making a difference today. We should thank Marion Wright Edelman for her tireless work on behalf of America's children. We should salute the nearly 300,000 African American men and women who proudly serve in our military. We should express our gratitude to the hundreds of thousands of African American police officers, firefighters, and first responders who dedicate their lives to serving and protecting us. Their constant acts of sacrifice serve as a model for all of us. During Black History Month, the Congressional Black Caucus embraces this year's theme as determined by the Association for the Study of African American Life, whose theme is: The Souls of Black Folk: Centennial Reflections.”