Martin Sabo: “it is my privilege to participate in the celebration of Black History Month this year by honoring two extraordinary…”

“it is my privilege to participate in the celebration of Black History Month this year by honoring two extraordinary civic leaders of Minnesota. I rise today to honor Cecil Newman and Gleason Glover, both of whom were influential and notable figures in Minnesota's civil rights history. Cecil Newman is most noted for founding both the Minneapolis Spokesman and the St. Paul Recorder, the oldest African-American-owned newspapers in Minnesota. In 1935, when the newspapers were first published, Cecil delivered them by foot. Today, the Spokesman and the Recorder are disbursed to over 26,000 Minnesotans. The newspapers were two among many of Cecil's remarkable achievements before he died in 1976. Mr. Newman was also responsible for persuading many African-Americans to exercise their right to vote and was a prominent leader in the fight for fair employment laws in Minnesota. I believe Hubert Humphrey's statement about Cecil best sums up the kind of man he was: "Cecil Newman is a good citizen--responsible, active, wise, and influential. I have been enriched by his friendship, strengthened by his support, and helped by his advice." Gleason Glover dedicated his life to bettering the lives of African-Americans. His list of accomplishments and awards is long. I am proud to say I knew Gleason on a professional level and he was a close personal friend.”