Black Women's History Week

Floor Speech

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Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I request that the U.S. government
officially recognizes the last week in March as Black Women's History
Week. During the week of March 23, as part of Women's History Month and
in honor of the U.N. declaration of 2015 as the decade of Afro
descendants, this week marks the perfect occasion on which to begin an
annual recognition and celebration of Black women's history and
contributions to American society.

Black women have long gone above and beyond the call of duty in their
contributions to American society through civic engagement, high voter
turnout, and stepping up as leaders and bulwarks in their communities.
Even in the face of grave oppression throughout our Nation's history,
Black women have continued to stand strong and contribute to the well-being of their families, communities, and our country as a whole. A recognition of Black Women's History Week on the part of the Obama Administration and Congress would send a critical message that the government wishes to elevate their role in history and contemporary society and recognizes the unique struggles they continue to experience today.

Black women have consistently played a critical role in this Nation's
history, often with little thanks or recognition. Harriet Tubman
escaped slavery and bravely returned to the enslaved South 13 times to
herald her people to freedom on the Underground Railroad. A century
later, Rosa Parks witnessed the oppression of her people--specifically
her fellow Black sisters--and took an active role in organizing the
Montgomery Bus Boycott. Today, a Black woman is our nation's First
Lady. Recognition of Black Women's History Week would honor and uplift
the sacrifices of women such as Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks, who
paved the way for Barack and Michelle Obama to reach the White House,
and me to address you on their behalf today.

Yet at the same time that Black women from our Nation's history have
become inspirational symbols of strength and perseverance, Black women
today continue to face the necessity to persevere through undue burdens
as they navigate American society. They must try to hold their families
together as primary caregivers when family members are incarcerated or
killed, support their children as they grow up in food deserts and
attend failing schools, they must continue to persevere when our
society does not provide them with adequate support and equal rights.
All the while, many Black women struggle to forward their own careers
and provide for their families. Recent U.S. Department of Labor data
shows that while job prospects are improving for nearly every group in
America, one glaring exception remains: Black women. Since August 2013,
Black women are the only group for whom unemployment rates have not
fallen.

Karen McLeod's experience as a 59-year-old college graduate with two
degrees who cannot find steady employment sheds light on the economic
tribulations many Black women face. Karen went from making $30 per hour
as a respiratory therapist to $16 per hour at a nonprofit, to $8.67 per
hour, working only 4 hours per week. In her current circumstances, she
has had to make a series of tough decisions to get by. Karen sold her
jewelry to pay for gas, pawned her television for food, and was forced
to ask local nonprofits for rent assistance. Karen's story represents
the experiences of a growing number of Black women, whose conditions
are not improving with economic recovery. White House recognition of
Black Women's History Week will serve to acknowledge and call attention
to the continued struggles Black women face in our society today and
will send the critical message that their government cares about what
they are going through.

This year, a coalition of organizations advocating for the well-being
of women and communities of color will partner to elevate the stories,
histories, and realities of Black women's lives. Each day of the week,
starting on March 23 and continuing through March 29, will focus on a
different issue Black women face in American society today, from
economic disparities to educational achievement to police violence.
Exploring these issues and acknowledging the centrality of Black women
to our history and social fabric, along with recognizing the uniquely
gendered and racialized inequities they face, is critical as we seek to
extend equal rights to all Americans. I hope and request that this will
be the first year in what will become an annual tradition of
celebration and intentional recognition of our sisters through Black
Women's History Week.

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