For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 9, 2002
President Discusses Black History Month in Radio Address
Radio Address of the President to the Nation
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Recently, I had
the honor of welcoming Coretta Scott King and her children to the White
House to observe Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. Shortly
after the holiday I visited the school that young Dr. King attended in
Atlanta, Booker T. Washington High School. It was a moving
experience to see the place where this great American began his life of
learning.
February is Black History Month, a time of learning for all of us.
Ever since the historian and educator, Carter Woodson, put black
history on the calendar back in 1926, February has been a time to
reflect on the contributions of African Americans, and the need to
remember and celebrate all of our history.
Nobody can understand this country without understanding the
African American experience. It began when America
began. And throughout our history, the experience of black
Americans has challenged every American to live up to the best ideals
of our country: freedom, equality and justice.
We have come far, and we have a way yet to go, but our goal is the
same goal that Dr. King set for us, to be one people in fact, as well
as in name. And one way to realize this goal is the same way
that Carter Woodson showed us, education.
Education is the beginning of opportunity. Through the
historic Education Reform Bill I recently signed, we are returning high
standards and accountability to all our public schools. And
my administration strongly supports the work and the mission of our
historically black colleges and universities.
My first budget pledged a 30 percent increase over four years, and
federal support for historically black colleges and universities and
Hispanic-serving institutions. And my new budget, even in a
time of recession and war, keeps us on track to reach that
target. These are schools like Morehouse College in Atlanta,
where Dr. King earned his first degree, schools like Howard University
in Washington, D.C., where Carter Woodson was Dean of the College of
Liberal Arts.
Our historically black colleges and universities opened the door to
knowledge, when other doors were barred. And today they
offer exciting opportunities to young people to contribute to their
country.
February is a month rich in important anniversaries. It
is the month in which Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass were born
-- two men, very different, who together ended slavery. It
is the month of the birth of W.E.B. DuBois, whose eloquent histories
opened our country's eyes to its own past and possibilities; and of the
birth of Rosa Parks, who courageously refused to yield to injustice on
a Montgomery, Alabama bus.
Today we are fighting for freedom in a new way, and on new
battlefields. And we continue to press for equal opportunity
for every American here at home. We want every American to
be educated up to his or her full potential. We salute the
accomplishments of our historically black colleges and
universities. And I hope all Americans will draw inspiration
from the message of Black History Month.
Thank you for listening.
END
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