Honoring the Life and Accomplishments of Ray Charles
HONORING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF RAY CHARLES -- (House of Representatives - June 22, 2004)
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Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 449) honoring the life and accomplishments of Ray Charles, recognizing his contributions to the Nation, and extending condolences to his family on his death.
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Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 449.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 449.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution recognizes the musical genius of one of Georgia's and America's greatest entertainers. It also recognizes the heroic struggle that Ray Charles Robinson began at the age of 7 to overcome the obstacle of blindness and to go on to become an international music superstar. But perhaps more importantly it also places in the
Congressional Record for posterity his contribution to Dr. Martin Luther King's drive to end segregation, his
worldwide campaign against apartheid and against anti-Semitism.
It is particularly significant to me that Ray Charles' greatest recorded public stand against segregation took place in the
heart of the 12th District of Georgia. In Augusta, Georgia, Ray Charles' concert had separated black and white fans and
suggested that they had to be seated in different areas of the concert hall. Ray refused. He refused to play unless folks
were allowed to sit where they wanted. He was sued. He broke his contract and lost a lot of money. But he stood firm.
He stood firm for his beliefs, and he stood firm in Georgia. Today we can all sit together in that same theater because of
the courage and conviction of Americans like Ray Charles and Martin Luther King and my friend and colleague from
Georgia, John Lewis.
For many Americans like me, it is amazing to hear Ray Charles sing "Georgia on My Mind" and "America the
Beautiful." He sings it with conviction, affection and style, that no one else ever has and no one else ever will. In spite
of the offense of segregation and bigotry, he kept his love of State and of Nation while working to make both of them a
better place. Ray Charles had already arrived where the rest of us needed to be.
With this resolution, we recognize not only a great musician and a great entertainer but a great Georgian and a great
American.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott), someone who worked diligently to recognize Ray Charles in the State House of Georgia.
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Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time
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Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Ray Charles was a musical genius, a great American, someone who stood for the rights of others. His life and his work will live forever through his music and through his legacy.
I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 449 honoring the life and service of Ray Charles Robinson.
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Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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