Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to first say thank you to our co-anchors; only freshmen in this House but certainly seasoned in the life that they have led. I thank Congressman Figures and Congresswoman Bynum, and to our Madam Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke. Mr. Speaker, tonight you will hear many stories of Black history, which is definitely American history. I rise today because Black sacrifice and excellence has shaped our Nation. We stand on the shoulders of many brave soldiers and Sojourners, but tonight I choose to salute living legends. I salute the 62 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, four Black Members for the first time serving in our United States Senate, and 58 House Members in this Congress, the largest in our history. As we say in the Baptist church, we have come a mighty long way. From 1971, when 13 Members sat on this House floor, 12 Black men from across this Nation and one brave, courageous, bad sister, Shirley Chisholm. My, have we come a long way. We come tonight, and we speak truth to power in this most unprecedented time in our Nation's history: a time when we are fighting for civil rights and justice, a time when we are fighting just to ask for an opportunity, for a broader talent base, something we call diversity, equity, and inclusion.…”