blues 4 langston hughes. 1967. langston hughes ties in may. the year, you had moved to africa. talk about that decision and where you went. >> marshall stearns was on the state department board. unfortunately, he died before i had a chance to thank him. i was on a tour with the state department of 14 countries in west and northern africa, including lebanon. we put together a great band. i took my son with me, who was 15. we had a wonderful tour. i requested, which ever country we went to, i wanted to be in touch with the traditional music of country. it was a good test for me. you can write music about africa in new york, but the test is when you play it in the country itself. when i played music in africa, i would tell the people, this is your music. you may not recognize it because it came in contact with european languages and instruments, but it is your music. we had a lot of success in africa. not only was it a concert, but having people understand the impact of african rhythms and world music. whether it is in brazil, cuba, mississippi,

so when i read these words that you included from langston hughes, i immediately thought of lucille andher poem "homage to my hips." and you've got that in here. >> oh gosh, yeah, i got "homage to my hips." yes, it's a great poem. >> why? >> it is -- it has a unique voice. it has a voice you can just hear, just speaking right off the page. and she celebrates her, you know, the big-hipped self, and sees the beauty in it. and frankly, says, "if you're pleased, fine. if you're not, it doesn't matter." >> and this universal poem is called "homage to my hips." "these hips are big hips they need space to move around in. they don't fit into little petty places. these hips are free hips. they don't like to be held back. these hips have never been enslaved, they go where they want to go they do what they want to do. these hips are mighty hips. these hips are magic hips. i have known them to put a spell on a man and spin him like a top!" >> she was a piece of work wasn't she? >> oh yeah, and what a beautiful piece of work she was. >> and you wanted this poem in, you insisted it be in for what rea

langston hughes. it seems so fitting and appropriate here. the name of the poem is harlem. and in it, he says, what happened to a dream deferred? does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? festering like a sore? and then maybe it just sag like a heavy load. or does it explode? today, we must thank the white house and the united states congress, my former colleague governor sam brownback, max cleland and jc watts, the smithsonian board of regeregent the director of the national museum of the african-american history and culture, lonnie bunch and his entire staff. the distinguished adviser counselor, of celebrity and scholars and a general corporate and individual donors, who have taken a dream deferred and helped it find its place in history. it is also the beginning. there's still much work to do. as we pursue this worthy goal, sent to us down through the ages we must not shrink. we must call upon the courage of those who were in the struggle, long before any of us were born. we must tell the story, the whole story, 400 year story of american african contribution to this nati

langston hugh. it seems fitting and appropriate here. the name of the forum follows.it dry up like a raisin or fester like a sore? and then rise? maybe it just sags like a heavy load. today, we must thank the white house and the united states congress. my former colleagues governor sam brownback, senator mike cleeland, j.c. watz. the secretary of the smithsonian. the director of the national museum of african-american history and culture lonny bunch and his staff. with the council of liberty and solace with individual donors, and helped to find its place in history. this is a beginning. there's still much work to do and worthy goals. that have come down through the ages. we must call upon the courage of those who will end the struggle, long before any of us were born. were must tell the story, the whole story, 400-year story of the african-american institution and t awnger or apology. the problem we face today as a nation, make it plain, make it clear, that we feel a great deal of pain that needs to be spiritual, and it speaks the truth that has the power to set an en

inspired by men and women of faith it reminds me of the words of one of favorite poets, langston hughes does it dry up a raisin in the sun? or fester like a sore. maybe it just sags like a heavy load? today we must thank the white house and the united states fo senator and congressman jc watts, the it regents. the secretary to the smithsonian. the director of the national museum of african ame history and culture and his staff. advised the council of scholars in a general corporate and individual donors who have taken a dream deferred and helped it find its place in history. this is an end but also a beginning. there is still much work to do. sit us down through the ages. we must call up on the courage of those who were in the struggle long before any of us were born. we must tell the story, the whole story 400 year story of african american contribution to this nation's history from slavery to the present without anger or apology. the problem we face today as a nation make it plain, make it clear that there is still a great deal of pain that needs to be healed. story told in this build

when i was as young as nine, which included black power of literature, "to kill a mockingbird," langston hughesand alice walker, although she didn't didn't know he was in that volume. and we went on many peace marches and then when we moved to the east coast, i went to a quaker school, carolina fans, which is very progressive and also had a women's study curriculum, so is able to start taking women's history in a formal classroom setting, but a school that encourage learning at your own pace. when i was 12. and i was able to soar to pursue the subject that interested me because i had been, you know, captain and pronounced gifted at an early age. so a lot of teachers were very interested in mentoring me working with me. so i had all of that as a kind of privilege. i had the knowledge. and my studies class at friends who were really simultaneous immersion and how do we get to vote when there first women of three conferences in an 18th century. and also, we looked at some of the issues of the day, and equal rights amendment and arguments about female equality and time. and still in touch with all

this reminds me of the words of one of my favorite poets, langston hughes.he poem is harlem. he says, "what happened to a dream deferred? does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? infected like a sore? maybe it just sags like a heavy load ." today, we must think the white house and the congress -- think the white house and congress. the smithsonian board of regents, the secretary the director of the national museum of african-american history and culture. in the entire staff. -- and the entire staff. it is these people who have taken a dream deferred and help it find it placed -- its place in history. this is the beginning. there is still much work to do. we must not shrink. we must call upon the courage of those who were in the strouble long before any of us were born. -- in the struggle before any of us were born. we have to tell the story of african-american contribution to this nation's history from slavery to the present. it without anger or apology. the problem we face today makes it clear there is still a great deal of pain that needs to be healed. the

this reminds me of the words of one of my favorite poets, langston hughes.he poem is harlem. he says, "what happened to a dream deferred? does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? infected like a sore? maybe it just sags like a heavy load." today, we must think the white house and the congress -- think the white house and congress. the smithsonian board of regents, the secretary, the director of the national museum of african-american history and culture. in the entire staff. -- and the entire staff. it is these people who have taken a dream deferred and help it find it placed -- its place in history. this is the beginning. there is still much work to do. we must not shrink. we must call upon the courage of those who were in the strouble long before any of us were born. -- in the struggle before any of us were born. we have to tell the story of african-american contribution to this nation's history from slavery to the present. it without anger or apology. the problem we face today makes it clear there is still a great deal of pain that needs to be healed. the

the year that the voting rights act was passed, langston hughes published a poll aim -- published a poem man's vision looms very large. turn the telescope around, looked to the larger in, and wonder why what was so large become so small again. we are now roughly a half century away from the second reconstruction of which the voting rights act was the crown jewel. in many ways, the voting rights act was amazingly successful. so we forget what prompted the voting rights act to be passed in the future. but when we ask why the first reconstruction, which was roughly twice as far from the voting rights act as we are from the voting rights act in the opposite direction. it was 100 years from the first reconstruction to the voting rights act and has now been 50 years roughly from the voting rights act to today. we ask why the first reconstruction bell. there were a number of reasons for that. one was the exhaustion of the national commitment to racial justice and it is replacement by a cynical bipartisan compromise. a second was a progressive believe, and they use the word progressive to descri

langston hughes. stephanie tubbs jones and i miss her until today. i have her picture in my office, halle berry, first african american to win an academy award. mayor stokes, cleveland, ohio. we are so proud of that and i was proud to serve with his brother, louis stokes, who preceded me. i could go on, mr. speaker. but i have to say i'm proud to be from ohio, one of the states that was always a free state, home of the underground railroad and people disembarked and escaped for their lives to places like canada through northern ohio and through the communities i'm privileged to represent now and i'm proud to stand with dr. christensen in honoring all americans and what they have taught us over our september tries about full representation and the decent and fair treatment of people. what a legacy they have given and continue to create for our country. i thank the gentlelady for yielding this evening. mrs. christensen: we appreciate you pointing out some of the inconsistents that are occurring in ohio and paying tribute to tone -- tony morrison. we ha

langston hughs. what happens to a dream deferred? does is it dry up like a raisin in the sun or fester like a sore has been run? does it stink like rotten meat or crust and sugar over like a syrupy sweet? maybe it just sags like our heavy load or does it explode? millions of americans -- republicans want to put one man out of a job and would defer the dreams of millions of americans but while they continue their song and dance, mr. chair, denying singers -- seniors the long-term care they need and deserve, putting more and more americans out of work, i hope the american people recognize who is really on their side before we see the american dream of living and retiring in dignity explode. and with that i would yield back the balance of my time. the chair: the gentlelady yields back. for what purpose does the gentlelady from california seek recognition? >> thank you, mr. chairman, i rise to strike the last word. the chair: the gentlelady is recognized for five minutes. >> let me thank congresswoman moore for her compassionate and clea