Sheila Jackson Lee: “Let me thank my friends and distinguished leaders of this Special Order, Congressman Veasey of Texas and Congresswoman…”

“Let me thank my friends and distinguished leaders of this Special Order, Congressman Veasey of Texas and Congresswoman Plaskett of the Virgin Islands. As I begin today, I want to pose a question that was posed by Eddie Chambers. Chambers is a professor of art and art history at the University of Texas in Austin. As I say that, let me respond to Congressman Veasey and indicate that we do have a lot of history in Harris County, but also in the State of Texas. Also, I had the privilege of working for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference during the leadership of, then, Ralph David Abernathy and met Hosea Williams and many of the foot soldiers that worked with Dr. King. I can see the historic perspective that they were able to garner by their experience and association with this great modern-day profit, a man who understood that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. As I answer the question, I want to cite from Eddie Chambers' article that appeared in the Chronicle today. He said in one of his sentences: ``Is there an important place for a celebration that might well appear in some respects as anachronistic? ``In a word,'' he said, ``yes.'' He went on to say: ``As a professor whose classes invariably deal with aspects of African-American history and African Diaspora history, any moment of doubt I might have about the validity of Black History Month are dispelled once classes begin each semester.…”