Congressional Gold Medal Honoring Mrs. Rosa Parks

More and more for me to understand that they're not just there by happenstance. We don't get on the Metro in Washington and saving where we want to see it just by happenstance. Public here in Washington sit down at the scene of me on the way I want to see it just by chance. Somebody made those kind of strides. And it was rose from the roof. No gold medal of honor. The highest award a civilian can receive. The ceremony took place in the Capitol Rotunda where members of Congress and other notable speakers expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Parks for her heroic role in the civil rights movement. In December of 1955. We are gathered here today to honor the courage and the dignity and the quiet strength of a black American woman who from her seat on a public bastion McGovern Alabama 1955 changed the direction of the most powerful nation on earth. Some of history's greatest freedom fighters have had to

strike a multitude of blows before anyone would hear the call for justice. But it was a single simple act. Of Rosa Parks on a month gum Reale a Bama bus on December the 1st of 1955. That turned the daily humiliation of segregation into an affirmation of humanity and freedom. A simple act. Of a brave woman helped a great nation reach its unfulfilled promise for all of its people. Dr. Martin Luther King recognized Rosa Parks contribution when he said and I quote you would have never heard of Martin Luther King if it hadn't been for Rosa Parks and the humble people. Jesse Norman and the Howard University choir performed in Mrs. Parks honor and at her request.

To have Rosa Parks the mother of the Civil Rights Movement ask us was just a feeling that you know and honor again that we won't ever we will never forget I mean as wonderful so many alumni and other members of the choir made sure that they'd be able to attend this event because not only to to be in the presence of Miss Parks but also to sing and to share our talent on music our voices with her and the message of the music that you were singing spirituals. The National Black National Anthem lets you have a voice and sing all the songs have such a meaning that is imbedded within us not just because of not just because of the music but because of the writing the text and what they mean to us what they meant to us. And to Miss Parks throughout her life and her struggles. I think it's important that young people understand that that was an era in this country

when there needed to have change. You need to be changed. We still need some change in this country we're still far from being the ideal society and I think young people can make the difference in this country and will make a difference so that our children and our children's children and their children will have better lives. President Clinton gave closing remarks. We must never ever when this ceremony is over forget about the power of ordinary people to stand in the fire for the cause of human dignity and to touch the hearts of people that have almost turned to stone. I thank the Congress for honoring Rosa Parks. I was honored Rosa to give you the Medal of Freedom and I was thrilled during the State of the Union address when you got that enormous bipartisan ovation here. But remember my fellow Americans freedom's work is never done there are still people who are

discriminated against. They're still good people. Because of their human condition are looked down on derided degraded demeaned. And we should all remember. The powerful example of this one said to those of us with greater authority and power should attempt every day in every way to follow her lead. God bless you Mrs. Parks and God bless America. We must tell the story all of us who have a special kinship to Rosa Parks meaning that we lived during the time that she set down. It is our obligation to teach the young people that history gives them strength that we should never forget from whence we've come. And it should be an oral tradition I think it's

beautiful that she wrote a book. I think it's beautiful that more and more we're learning black history African-American history in our schools unlike what happened to me unless a teacher took me aside and shared it with me enough in our books that we got from the majority community. They didn't have black history in it but it was my responsibility then to learn from my elders as they taught me. It is now my responsibility hopefully to share the oral history with the young people of today because they are talented they are wonderful. But it is important to be grounded in history we have a wonderful rich history there so much. And Rosa Parks was the anchor. She's the mother. She's the mother of the nation She's a mother the civil rights movement. She is our mother and how wonderful it is that she lives in our lifetime. How great we have been blessed with the ability to honor someone while they were alive. I thank you. This man is

carrying is meant to continue. And people have equal rights. Lady Liberty is not a statue or made of star she has a care package a body of dignity. She is Rosa Parks. The mother of our nation. At the bottom of our hearts we say thank you for the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honoring Miss Rosa Parks was spearheaded by Congresswoman Julia Carson. I ran across a book that I refer to very often called Quiet strength. Mrs. Rowles and throughout the pages of quiet strength is replete with spiritual. History and spiritual signs. And one night from my desk I called him rational Research Service and I said Could you tell me whether or not Mrs. Rosa Parks gets a Congressional Gold Medal. And they said Not yet. I said Well just

hold on just don't know.