Ritchie Torres: “I want to pay tribute to my classmate, Congress Member Nikema Williams, who, as the chair of the Georgia Democratic…”

“I want to pay tribute to my classmate, Congress Member Nikema Williams, who, as the chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, was instrumental in winning the Senate for the Democratic Party. Thanks to the leadership of on-the-ground organizers like Congress Member Williams, a Democratic Senate, a Democratic House, a Democratic President means we have the makings of an FDR moment. We have a historic opportunity to govern as boldly in the 21st century as FDR did in the 20th century. Systemic racism in America traces back 400 years, and it is incredible to think that in the 400-year history of our country, we are as close as we have ever been to confronting the root causes of systemic racism. That is the burden that we bear as the Congressional Black Caucus, but it is not only a burden. It is a blessing. Public service in an FDR moment is a blessing. It is said the first historian, Herodotus, said that he wrote the first historical book so that the deeds of brave people cannot be forgotten. That is the same reason the CBC exists, so that the deeds of Black heroes like Harriet Tubman and Ida B. Wells, like John Lewis, like Barack Obama and Kamala Harris, are never forgotten, that the contributions of Black America should remain front and center in the life of our country. It has been an honor to be with you, Congress Member Jackson Lee. I cannot tell you how honored I feel to be a member of the CBC. You know, I grew up poor most of my life.…”