Recognizing Dr. Preston King
Floor Speech
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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a social science educator, prolific writer, political philosopher, and African American Civil Rights Activist, Dr. Preston King.
Dr. King was born in Albany, Georgia on March 3, 1936, to the union of Clennon Washington King, Sr., and Margaret Slater King.
Dr. King obtained his bachelor's degree from Fisk University in 1956. He went on to obtain his Master of Science in 1958 from the London School of Economics and his PhD in 1966. Dr. King was subjected to the draft board process and after the board refused to address him as Mr. King, he refused to respond. He was charged with draft evasion and went into exile in the United Kingdom because of the unjust charges that were levied against him.
His exile began his storied career in Academia as he has served at many institutions of higher learning in England and Africa to include Keele University, The University of Ghana, The University of Sheffield, the University of East Africa and as department Chair at the University of Nairobi.
Dr. King moved to Australia in 1976 where he served as Chair of the School of Economics until 1986, when he returned to the United Kingdom and Lancaster University, resuming his position as Chair.
During his extraordinary career, Dr. King has published many books. His first book was published in 1967, Fear of Power. Other dynamic publications included Politics and Experience, as well as multiple editions of The Ideology of Order in 1974 and 1999 and Toleration in 1978 and 1998. Other books include An African Winter, Socialism and the Common Good: New Fabian Essays and Friendship and Politics. Additionally, Dr. King has authored, narrated, and edited the Critical Review International Social and Political Philosophy.
Despite his numerous commitments in academia, Dr. King has found time to share his talents as a visiting professor at multiple institutions of higher learning to include McGill University in Canada, Auckland University in New Zealand, Australian National University in Australia, Macquarie University in Australia and Birkbeck College, a part of the University of London System.
Dr. King's philosophy in academia and activism has always been centered around social issues, especially as they relate to scientific matters. He has extensively studied the structure of societies and how they function and evolve, and he has played an integral role in tying questions of history and the philosophy of history to questions of tolerance and the ways societies may or may not be managed.
Dr. King was pardoned by President Bill Clinton in 2000. He has been active as a scholar-in residence at the leadership center of Morehouse College in Atlanta since 2006.
Shirley Chisholm once said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Through much adversity, Dr. Preston King has paid his rent and he has paid it well.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian; and me, along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District in honoring Dr. Preston King for his many years of service to academia and humankind.
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