Mccollum Statement Commemorating 2022 Black History Month

Statement

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) released the following statement in recognition of Black History Month:

"Each February we commemorate Black History Month to honor the immeasurable contributions of Black Americans, whose experiences, art, and stories have always enriched the fabric of what it means to be an American. Black history is American history, Black culture is American culture, and Black stories are American stories.

"Black History Month serves as both a celebration and a powerful reminder that as we honor the legacies and achievements of generations past, our nation must also reckon with centuries of injustice, and confront those injustices that remain today. Here in the Fourth District, we reflect on the historic Rondo neighborhood, a vibrant and thriving African American community in the heart of St. Paul. We celebrate the stories of family, hope, and persistence and tend to the deep wounds of a community that was divided and displaced for the construction of a highway -- an example of the structural inequality that still impacts Black neighborhoods throughout the nation. I am proud to be working with community members on ways to commemorate and reconnect the Rondo neighborhood using federal funds. We also celebrate thriving Black-led cultural institutions like Penumbra Theatre, the community support provided by Hallie Q. Brown Center, and up-and-coming new businesses like the only Black-owned bookstore in Minnesota, Black Garnet Books.

"As a nation, we must engage honestly with our history and confront the institutionalized racism that Black Americans still face. That work must happen everywhere -- in critical conversations within classrooms, or in the crucial work of nonprofit and advocacy organizations on the ground in our communities. My commitment at the federal level is to passing legislation that addresses entrenched racial disparities wherever they are found -- in health care, education, housing, environmental justice, and especially in policing. As yet another family mourns after the use of a no-knock warrant resulted in the senseless killing of Amir Locke, we must all use the power we have to stop these tragedies before they happen. In the House, we have passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to restrict the use of this type of warrant and increase accountability for law enforcement. The irresponsible filibustering of this bill is yet another reason the Senate must reform its own rules -- so the Democratic majority there can send this bill to the president's desk and we can finally make strides toward ending police brutality, which falls disproportionately on the shoulders of Black Americans."

"The fight for justice continues through the work of the Black leaders and allies, organizers, and advocates championing equality and opportunity for all our communities. Working with the Biden-Harris administration, I will continue to advance civil liberties, expand voting rights, improve access to health care, boost educational opportunities, and keep building an economy that works for everyone. This is a time for all of us to reflect on our nation's history, recommit to rooting out the lasting harm inflicted by systemic racism, and work to achieve a brighter future."

Learn more about the history of Black History Month at blackhistorymonth.gov, where the Library of Congress, National Archives, and more have joined forces to pay tribute to generations of African Americans.

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