Political Quotes

“I thank my good friend and colleague, Representative Kelly from the great State of Illinois, for, once again, presiding over this CBC Special Order, this opportunity for members of the Congressional Black Caucus to speak directly to the American people for 60 minutes on matters of great importance. Mr. Speaker, certainly, members of the Congressional Black Caucus recognize the strength, the vitality, the intelligence, and the importance of African American women to the African American experience in this great country--in fact, to the American experience. Consistently, it has been black women who have fought hard to bring American democracy to life, to continue the march to perfect a more perfect Union. I think often of the role that Harriet Tubman played--a bold, fearless woman who managed to free herself from the horrific bondage of slavery in the South and make it to the North but who then decided, at great sacrifice to her own potential well-being, to go back down South an additional 19 times, freeing more than 200 black slaves. I also find it fascinating that, when Harriet Tubman once was asked about her heroics--who spent many of her final years in New York--was dismissive. She said: ``I could have freed more if they only knew that they were slaves.'' I think Harriet Tubman gave us some words of wisdom that can serve many communities all across the country today that are still struggling to deal with social and economic injustice.…”