Congratulating The National Urban League

Floor Speech

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Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady for the time, and I want to thank the Honorable ALCEE HASTINGS, a most respected Member of this House. I am honored that he would present this resolution honoring a most respected organization in this country, the National Urban League.

The Honorable ALCEE HASTINGS has been a part of the avant-garde when it comes to human rights and civil rights and protecting those who are among the least, the last and the lost in society, which is what the Urban League seeks to do. One hundred years of service to the United States of America, and indirectly to the planet Earth because indirectly what you do for one, you do for all.

I am honored to mention that the honorable Marc Morial has continued the great tradition of leadership established in the Urban League. He is the current president and CEO. In Houston, we have the honorable Judson Robinson, who is the president and CEO of the Houston Area Urban League, and he has done a stellar job as well.

The Urban League is now and has always been an integrated organization, founded by two persons of different hues, and continues that legacy, that heritage, if you will, of representing all persons, but making sure that those who have been left behind have the opportunity to catch up.

I am honored to tell you that the Urban League has this goal of self-reliance, and it perfects the goal of self-reliance by way of political parity, by way of making real the great and noble American ideal expressed in Baker v. Carr: one person, one vote. The Urban League seeks to cause those who were locked out of the process to have the opportunity to not only participate, but to have their votes mean something.

The Urban League seeks to have self-reliance through economic empowerment, the notion that equality of opportunity ought to exist for all within this great country. Equality of opportunity. Not give me something for nothing but give the opportunity to succeed on merits or fail on demerits, the opportunity to participate in the process.

One hundred years of service. One hundred years of combating poverty, inequality, and social injustice.

I close with this reminder, a cliche, a phrase, if you will, that is worn out, and it is worn because of a good reason, because it means something. That phrase is this: if we did not have the National Urban League, we would surely have to create it.

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