Congresswoman Barbara Lee Reflects on the 50th Celebration of the March on Washington and its significance in todays society.
“As we celebrate and remember the great moment in our history that was the March on Washington, it is time for us as a nation to commemorate the progress we have made, but also work towards achieving a more perfect union for all. There is still much to be done,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee in a recent statement.
< p>< p>Fifty years ago, when I was a teenager, our country looked very different. I remember the days of segregation and Jim Crow very well: when I was a child, I wasn’t even allowed to go to public schools because they were segregated. Progress has been made, but there is still much to be done.”
“African Americans have made great strides since the March on Washington – from higher achievement in academics, higher incomes, to even the number of African American elected officials, including the first African American president. But there is still much to be done,” she said.
“The rates of poverty in the African American community are far too high and the current unemployment rates are unacceptable. We must move forward – from creating jobs to investing in our youth, tackling income inequality and racism, strengthening the Voting Rights Act in the wake of the devastating Supreme Court decision, and creating a criminal justice system that is truly just.”
“Dr. King’s dream wasn’t just for African Americans, but for our country and for our world. This week and every week, let us honor and remember those who fought so valiantly for justice, equality, and peace. It is my hope that as we celebrate and remember Dr. King’s dream, we rededicate ourselves to creating a society which upholds the notion that all people are created equal.”
Congresswoman Barbara Lee represents California’s 13th Congressional District, serving the East Bay from 1998 to 2013.