James Norton: “I recognize that the majority has also given some considerable attention to Historically Black Colleges and…”

“I recognize that the majority has also given some considerable attention to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and I want to thank them for that this evening. I am pleased that the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), the minority leader, has taken a lead in drawing in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities here this week when the President has declared this to be National Black Colleges and Universities Week, so that we could hear directly from them. If I may say so, my own sister, a fourth generation Washingtonian like me, is president of a Historically Black College and University, Albany State University; so I suppose my own interest in this is also a family interest. She is a graduate of Miners Teachers College, now the University of the District of Columbia. My mother is a graduate of Howard University. I suppose it is very difficult for any African American who has gotten anywhere in life not to have in her family some indication that the HBCUs have touched their lives.”