G. K. Butterfield: “Madam Speaker, this Nation has yet to fully come to terms with and recognize the institution of slavery that existed in…”

“Madam Speaker, this Nation has yet to fully come to terms with and recognize the institution of slavery that existed in this country for so long. Slavery is perhaps the most underrecognized crime against humanity in the history of the world. Madam Speaker, I am often asked about my light complexion. Some people do it out of curiosity and it does not offend me, but I am often asked about my complexion. It is a fact that I am indeed an African American. My great-grandmother was a slave. And my great grandfather was the slave master. And my situation is not unique. The enslavement of millions of people who were taken from the west coast of Africa still affects millions of Americans today. I represent the First Congressional District of North Carolina. My area of the country was one of the destinations of the slave trade. My congressional district today suffers from the effects from slavery. My constituents, half of whom are African American, suffer from disparities across the spectrum.”