Political Quotes

“And still I rise. And still I rise a proud descendant of the enslaved people who are the foundational mothers and fathers of the United States of America. They are the foundational mothers and fathers because many of them had their entire lives sacrificed so that the country can have the economic foundation that it had in the early stages of its existence. These foundational mothers and fathers are the persons who were kidnapped, brought to this country, placed into slavery, forced into labor, centuries of labor, not compensated, no remuneration. I am a proud descendant, and I am a proud descendant because they ought to be respected. It is time to respect the foundational mothers and fathers who laid the economic foundation upon which this Nation stands today. I am also proud to be here today to speak about the conscience agenda. We want to make sure that we have a slavery remembrance day, August 20. On August 20, 1619, the White Lion docked in Point Comfort, Virginia, near what we now call Norfolk, Virginia. On this White Lion were persons who were placed into slavery in this country. August 20, 1619, a moment in time that will impact the rest of time, we will never be able to escape the fact that it happened. It was a seminal moment in time. August 20 ought to be slavery remembrance day. We ought to also do something to acknowledge those persons whom I call the foundational mothers and fathers. I am a proud descendant of them.…”