Congressional Black Caucus: Race Relations in America

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois. It has been as a labor of love that we have represented the Congressional Black Caucus in these Special Order hours this year.

Our year is coming to a close. As we look back at the issues that we have discussed over the course of this year, it has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside my colleague, R. Kelly.

As for tonight's issue, we have seen in recent weeks a number of racially charged incidents that have set off protests on college campuses across the country. From the University of Missouri to Yale, students have protested the inadequate responses of their school administrations to racism and harassment against minority students. We have seen the failure of many college administrations to properly address overt racism against minority students on campus.

Adding to the anxiety felt by these students have been threats of violence against African American students and faculty. In many instances, there is a disconnect between students of color and the university leaders.

In many of these instances, administrators have openly acknowledged that their responses to minority students have come too late and that their behavior has failed to take into consideration the concerns of students and the injustices against those students.

This is an extension of the debate over interactions--often deadly--between law enforcement and African

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