Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Floor Speech

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Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, first, let me say thank you to the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman Steven Horsford, for shaping our message tonight and reminding us so eloquently of what our role is to be here as a Member of Congress, as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, representing some 80 million Americans and some 18 million Black Americans.

To our Special Order hour chairs, the gentleman from Illinois and the gentlewoman from Florida, thank you for your leadership role. Thank you for your opening remarks reminding us that words matter, reminding us that as leaders, we are elected to represent diverse bodies across this wonderful America that we live in. Thank you to my classmate, Congressman Donald Payne, for giving us a history, for setting the record straight.

Mr. Speaker, we are here today because we want America to know how important our work is. We want them to know when we say we are woke, we are proud. We are speaking to constituents across America.

Somehow, my colleagues have started with that, turning that into a negative. Well, we are very clear that we are very woke. We are woke about what is needed to all constituents, and we are fighting for everyone, but, yes, we clearly stand up and represent Black America.

I rise today to join my colleagues in shedding light on the deeply derogatory term that has perpetuated the pain and suffering endured by Black Americans throughout history; the term that was used by a Member of this Chamber just a few days ago--colored people.

It was equally as disturbing, Mr. Speaker, that he made reference to DE&I as lowering standards, getting less than. Well, today I rise as a strong supporter of DE&I.

Through the bold leadership of then Chairwoman Maxine Waters, chair of the prestigious Financial Services Committee, I was appointed by her as the first-ever D&I chair of the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion under the powerful Financial Services Committee.

Now, I mention this for a reason, Mr. Speaker. We brought in the largest financial institutions in this Nation, CEOs of companies like J.P. Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and the list goes on and on.

Each one of those CEOs under oath testified that they were committed to DE&I because it was a good business thing, and it would make a difference in this country.

They hired DE&I corporate executives across America not because it was lowering standards, not because they were employing people who were less than, but because they had an understanding in this America that we live in that that makes us more united, and it helps us avoid the culture wars that I am sadly seeing on this floor.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I stand here as a Black woman, proud to serve all of my constituents, but, today, it is very personal and somewhat emotional for me because I am standing here in the same spot that I stood in last week where I am now reminded that I was faced to deal with in 2023 what I heard on this floor.

On this floor, Mr. Speaker, the people's House, I am forced to deal with what for centuries Black Americans have been subjected to: systemic oppression, denied human rights, and treated as lesser human beings, simply because of the color of their skin.

Phrases like this have no place on the House floor in Congress or anywhere else. This term, more commonly used in the Jim Crow years, is a phrase that is deeply offensive and considered as a slur to delineate Black Americans as less than, and it carries the historical burden of pain and violent discrimination, widespread inequality, and segregation.

Mr. Speaker, as I come to a close, let me just share with you that we live in a world where the United States of America is a superpower on the global stage because of our rich diversity, something that is to be celebrated, not used as a tool to shame not only us but those servicemen who signed up to put their life on the line for this country.

I am sitting here and thinking what John Lewis would say because so many of my Republican colleagues proudly quote him: See something, say something. I am feeling like what Shirley Chisholm must have thought when she was the only female to be one of the founders of the Congressional Black Caucus and to stand on this House floor as a Black woman having to deal with the things that we are having to deal with now.

Certainly, I could go on and on and do a roll call of many other Black Americans, White Americans, and Brown Americans who have stood on this floor defending this House.

This word should not be allowed to be used as a tool to shame or admonish those who are systemically marginalized or oppressed.

I know well the consequences that have come as a result of systemic discrimination, whether by policy or by everyday hate speech. Each of us, Mr. Speaker, in this body is responsible for challenging and dismantling systems of discrimination that have perpetuated throughout our society.

I am going to offer a resolve. We have heard our chairperson say no apologies, seen a few statements on social media, but since the Speaker of the House issued a statement that there was no place for this, the leader of the House supported that the words be taken down, there is an issue that can help me with resolve.

You see, several of us, as Democrats and members of the Congressional Black Caucus, have a piece of legislation that says Black history is American history. If we really believe in bipartisanship, if Representative Crane, as he said, wanted to amend his words because he did not mean that, and somewhere on social media he invoked God and what this was causing him with his team, then let's have all of our Members recognize that there are so many things that Black Americans did because Black history is American history.

If we had the time, I could rattle off a list of things that we are allowed to do because a Black person invented it or a Black person designed it. If we really meant to say ``people of color,'' then let me say people of color have led and continue to lead this Nation.

A Black man served as President of these United States. A Black woman serves as Vice President of these United States. Right here in the spot that you are standing, Mr. Speaker, a Black man, for the first time in the history of this country, became sworn in by this body as the minority leader in this House and held that most sacred gavel to put in the hands of the Speaker.

As I end, I will use my voice and my platform to make the world a better place for my children--for all the children and grandchildren-- and my grandchildren, so Spencer and Leah will know that they, too, will be valued as strong Black Americans. I charge all of my colleagues to do the same.

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