On the recordJune 16, 2021
It is not often when you can stand on the floor of the House and use the terminology: I feel full or filled. It is a terminology that many of us are familiar with in the religious communities of our Black American tradition. But after a journey of 10 years, I just want to take this moment to thank all of my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, who showed America that there is unity in the understanding of our history, that the history of slavery is the original sin and should never be ignored. But now we have a national independence holiday for Juneteenth. Let us come together. I thank Senator Markey; Senator Cornyn; Senator Smith; our friend Danny Davis; Doug Matthews; the Moody family; and, of course, Reverend Thomas and many others from the Galveston area; Opal Lee; and the father of Juneteenth, the late Representative Al Edwards. Opal Lee still lives. She brought 1.6 million petitions to the United States Congress in the dead of summer. On behalf of all who have waited for this, I thank them. And to the Congressional Black Caucus, Joyce Beatty as the Chair, we stand here as the conscience of the Congress thanking them with all my colleagues. Again, we say our message is our power. We are here to serve, and there is more to come in changing lives for justice, equality, and freedom. That is what happened today. ____________________
