On the recordFebruary 2, 2015
I want to thank the gentlelady from Ohio for yielding to me. I want to thank both the gentlelady from Illinois and the gentleman from New Jersey for providing this opportunity here to speak tonight on something that I think is very important. As a member of the CBC, a very proud member, I am here because we rise to commemorate a slice of American history that speaks to the spirit that is America. We rise to acknowledge the sacrifice and the forethought of a generation whose risks were ultimately America's reward. We rise to recognize the American heroes and sheroes of Selma on the 50th anniversary of this Bloody Sunday. From Selma, we learned that sometimes protests and objections that are deemed un-American today may later be considered the greatest manifestation of American democracy. From Selma, we learned that because of a young person's protests today, he may be called an outside agitator, a troublemaker, or even a provocateur, but that same young person, because of that same activity, may later be called courageous, a hero, or even a Congressman. Yes, from Selma, we learned that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they are on the side of righteousness. Selma taught us, as Dr. King suggested, that it is always the right time to do what is right. But at the time of that fight, the likelihood that this generation of young dreamers would be successful in transforming an entire society seemed slim. They persevered anyhow.…
