Political Quotes

“Mr. President, today I am reintroducing the 400 Years of African American History Commission Act. We are 2 years away from a key anniversary in American history. August 2019 will mark 400 years since the first documented arrival of Africans who came to English America by way of Point Comfort, VA. This historic and tragic moment, when ``20 and odd'' Africans, as it was recorded were the first recorded group of Africans to arrive involuntarily and were sold as involuntary laborers or indentured servants in the colonies. This indelible mark in American history should not pass without recognition. During my tenure as Governor of Virginia, I presided over the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, VA, by the English colonists in 1604. Two years ago I attended the 450th anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine, FL, which celebrated Hispanic heritage. Both commemorations included activities sponsored by Federal commissions, which were voted on and passed by Congress. Having commemorated the English and Spanish heritage of our founding, there is no reason it should be any different for the arrival and continuous presence of Africans and African Americans in the English settlements in 1619. There is no dispute that the beginning of African and African-American presence in what is now the United States was both heartbreaking and regrettable. Although in 1619 slavery was not yet an institution, the involuntary status of those first Africans was the impetus to slavery.…”