Caucus on Black Boys and Men

Floor Speech

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this time to thank Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for pulling together yesterday the first meeting of the Caucus on Black Men and Boys. Trayvon Martin's dad also participated with us yesterday. We need to do something about the violence that occurs all too often, particularly with many young African American boys, in our communities.

Black boys in our community face daily obstacles, including run-ins with the police, high rates of unemployment, racial profiling, and extreme prosecution that leads to over-incarceration in the community. As a black man, I can attest to what President Obama said in his recent speech:

Trayvon Martin could have been me.

African American men have lived an experience of being stereotyped and profiled in other ways that most people have never had to endure and can never understand.

Mr. Speaker, it is our job as legislators to create policies that create a level playing field so everyone can succeed.

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