Tina Smith: “I rise today to reflect on a momentous day in American history. On this day in 1780, Pennsylvania became the first State…”

“I rise today to reflect on a momentous day in American history. On this day in 1780, Pennsylvania became the first State in our Nation to abolish slavery. The Gradual Abolition Act was an important first step in our Nation's history toward greater equality for all Americans. Last month, 226 years later, we celebrated Black History Month. And, we have much to celebrate since 1780. The accomplishments of African- Americans and their tremendous sacrifices have strengthened our great Nation and we recognize their enormous contributions to our diverse culture. In 1870, the 15th amendment to the Constitution granted African- American men the right to vote by declaring that the ``right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.'' It would be almost a century, however, for the true spirit of the 15th amendment to be fully realized. Through the use of literacy tests, poll taxes, and other means, African-Americans were effectively disenfranchised in many parts of the Nation. Significant numbers of Black Americans across the country were not registered to vote until the Voting Rights of Act of 1965 was enacted. Organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP, have continued the effort to gain true equality for African-Americans.…”