Political Quotes

“It is a great honor that I rise today to anchor the CBC Special Order. I would like to thank the CBC chairman, Chairman Richmond, for his leadership in this effort. For the next 60 minutes, we have an opportunity to speak directly to the American people about issues of great importance to the Congressional Black Caucus and the millions of constituents we represent. Tonight, Mr. Speaker, I want to speak about a topic that has affected this country and plagued us all. Over 50 years ago, in the middle of the Detroit riot, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, commonly known as the Kerner Commission. The goal of that Commission was to identify the underlying causes of the civil unrest in communities across the country. This was a time of tremendous tension in our great Nation. Many Americans were confused about the root causes of the riots and the unsure path forward. On February 29, 1968, following several field trips to troubled communities, the Commission released the Kerner Report, a 176-page report that examined cultural institutional racism, from segregated schools and housing discrimination to generational poverty and to limited economic opportunity. The Commission largely held racism responsible for Black rioting and warned that our Nation is moving to two societies, one Black, one White--separate and unequal.…”