Statement at Black Men and Boys Inaugural Event

Jun 4, 2014
Press Release
 
Norton Statement at Congressional Caucus on Black Men and Boys Inaugural Event
 
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Black Men and Boys, delivered remarks at the Caucus’ inaugural event today, entitled “The Status of Black Males: Ensuring Our Boys Mature Into Strong Men.”
 
At the event, Norton said, “The issues are spread across the spectrum of the life of Black males in America today – clothed in stereotypes from their years as boys, as youths, and as men.  We seek a society that does not define Black men and boys, but allows African American males the opportunity to define themselves as individuals…Today, Trayvon helps the Caucus bring Black men and boys to center stage.”
 
Norton’s full statement follows.
 
“We thank Trayvon Benjamin Martin’s father, Tracy Martin, former Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, and Executive Director David J. Johns of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans for the public service they are offering today in this inaugural event of the Congressional Caucus on Black Men and Boys. 
 
“In establishing the Congressional Caucus on Black Men and Boys earlier this year, Representative Danny Davis and I sought to raise to the national level, beginning with Congress, serious issues that we and other members of Congress are grappling with in our districts, along with state and local government officials and especially parents and relatives and the African American community itself.  The issues are spread across the spectrum of the life of Black males in America today – clothed in stereotypes from their years as boys, as youths, and as men.  We seek a society that does not define Black men and boys, but allows African American males the opportunity to define themselves as individuals.
 
“Today’s event, entitled “The Status of Black Males: Ensuring Our Boys Mature Into Strong Men,” cannot drill down to the entire multitude of issues that require attention, remedies, and candid discussion within the African American community and with the larger society.  The way to begin, we believe, is with an event in the nature of an overview offered by three distinguished and knowledgeable African American men to introduce the subject, each discussing a stage in the life of a Black male in our country today.  Their discussion, each for 10 minutes, will be followed by questions from members of Congress. 
 
“We are particularly fortunate that Mr. Tracy Martin, the father of Trayvon Martin and founder of the Trayvon Martin Foundation, agreed to come to today’s event to give opening remarks.  The loss of 17-year-old Trayvon has focused attention on Black males as nothing else has in decades.  Overlaying the disappointment by African Americans in the verdict in the Zimmerman trial are many issues that Trayvon’s death brings into sharp focus.
 
“With the loss of Trayvon, attention is understandably focused on a civil rights or hate- crime cause of action by the U.S. Justice Department.  Whatever the Justice Department decides, we hope that today’s event focuses us as well on a lasting legacy for Trayvon Martin.  Today, Trayvon helps the Caucus bring Black men and boys to center stage.  We begin our mission to take on the challenges facing our men and boys, and ask our fellow Americans and African Americans to do the same.”
 
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