Rep. Melvin L. Watt (D-N.C.), the new chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, in a keynote address at the Library for African American History Month promoted the caucus agenda—to eliminate disparities between black and white Americans.
Although African American History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of African Americans and acknowledge anger about their past, it is also appropriate to assess the future, he said. "It's for that reason that the Congressional Black Caucus has gone back to basics to focus our efforts and our unity on our historical mission—closing and eliminating disparities that exist between black and white Americans in every aspect of life. In doing so, we're not focusing on the causes of the disparities."
Invited to the Library by the African American History Month Planning Committee, Watt spoke on Feb. 15 before a standing-room-only crowd of Library and congressional staffers and community members ranging from schoolchildren to senior citizens.
Watt was sworn in as Congressional Black Caucus chairman in a Great Hall ceremony on Jan. 4. Dedicating his speech to the black men and women who had endured slavery, the congressman discussed the joy of celebrating the historical achievements of African Americans and the anger evoked in reflecting on slavery and its aftermath.
"In 1905, 100 years ago, 29 courageous men, led by Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois and William Monroe Trotter, met in Niagara Falls, Canada, to commit to uplifting the lives of people of the African Diaspora," Watt said.
"The theme for this year's Black History Month is ‘The Niagara Movement,' in honor of that famous meeting, its location and the mighty tide of protest the group promised to unleash if America did not meet its call for full civil liberties, the abolition of racial discrimination and the recognition of political rights for black Americans," Watt noted.
While preparing for his Library speech, Watt said, he became "quite angry" as he reviewed the powerful 2003 HBO production of "Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives," which was based on slave narratives collected during the 1930s by the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration and deposited in the Library in bound volumes in 1941. (For more information about the narratives, see //memory.loc.gov/ammem/snhtml/.)
"Allow me to suggest that each of you, if you haven't already done so, obtain a [video] copy [of the film] and devote the 75 minutes needed to watch it," he said. The documentary had its premiere at the Library of Congress before the Congressional Black Caucus on Feb. 7, 2003, and was shown for the staff on Feb. 24, 2003. The companion book is available from the Library's online Sales Shop at www.loc.gov/shop/.
Besides remembrance of the past and celebration of those who moved on to success, Watt said Black History Month is "also about the future—a time to assess and acknowledge that there are miles and miles and miles to go before we sleep in the promised resting place of equality."
For that reason, he said, the Congressional Black Caucus will focus on the future and remedies for disparities between blacks and whites. "We know that whether these disparities are the result of the racism, bigotry and prejudices of history or simply of present-day inattention and insensitivity, the results are the same. They deprive African American citizens disproportionately of the promise of equality … and of the opportunity for every American to reach his or her full potential," he said.
In conclusion, Watt emphasized: "Black History Month must never be only about remembering the past. It must always also be about using the lessons of the past to improve the future. I hope you will see fit to join in supporting the agenda of the Congressional Black Caucus and help us use this month as the launching pad to demand that our country close and eliminate disparities."
