Pelosi Remarks at Statue Dedication Ceremony Honoring Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune of Florida
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined Members of Congressional Leadership and Members of the Florida Congressional delegation to unveil a statue honoring Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune of Florida: a civil rights pioneer and a champion for African American women's rights. Below are the Speaker's remarks:
Speaker Pelosi. As Speaker of the House, it is my privilege to welcome you to Statuary Hall as we celebrate a pioneer – pioneering and patriotic American, the pride of Florida and America: Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Now, at this time, please stand as you are able, for the presentation of colors and the national anthem.
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Speaker Pelosi. Now, it is my special honor to invite our program participants to join in the unveiling of this magnificent statue. Usually we save this to the end, but we wanted you all to be able to enjoy it throughout the program. So we're going to begin.
Kathy – Congresswoman Kathy Castor, who for years has been a relentless force to honor Dr. Bethune here in the Capitol. Members of the Florida delegation in the House: Congresswoman Val Demings, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, Congressman Michael Waltz. And we are welcoming over to the House side – from the Senate to the House – Senator Marco Rubio.
I also want to invite Nancy Lohman, President of the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Statuary Fund. She has been a force of nature in making this happen, along with Kathy Castor. And Dr. Lawrence Drake, Interim President of the Bethune-Cookman University.
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Speaker Pelosi. Thank you to all of our participants today and all who made this important, special occasion possible for the Capitol, for our country. Thank you, Kathy Castor. Thank you so much to Nancy Lohman. Thank you Dr. Drake. Thank you all. And thank you, Senator [Rick Scott], for your role as Governor and for honoring us with your presence today. Senator Scott, thank you.
And thank you to the State of Florida. Just think –
[Applause]
It's a privilege for all of us to pay tribute to Mary McLeod Bethune: an unyielding force for racial justice, a pioneering voice for gender equity – at that time, imagine – and a devoted advocate for education, as has been mentioned.
I've had the honor of having a bust of Dr. McLeod [Bethune] in my office for decades. And now I'm proud that Congress will be blessed with this magnificent presence in Statuary Hall.
All of us are in awe of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune's extraordinary story. As we heard, born to parents who were formerly enslaved, she devoted her life to opening doors of opportunity for more Americans. She did so by in her own words, engraved on this statue, which I want you all to come up and see: ‘Invest – I invest in the human soul. It may be a diamond in the rough.' That's optimistic about all of us.
Establishing a boarding school, which lives on in Bethune-Cookman University. Registering women to vote after the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Becoming what was, at the time, the highest ranking Black official under President Franklin Roosevelt. Helping lead influential civil rights groups, including the NAACP – until she found them to be too moderate and she formed her own organization – and that's the statue that I have in my office. And how poetic and how wonderful it is that she was able to do so much.
Here she is, sitting next – standing next to Rosa Parks. Isn't this remarkable? Now, as has been said, this is the first African American – Black, Black American statue coming from a state. We, as an act of Congress, voted to have a statue of Rosa Parks here. Many of us knew her. And she told us – right, Steny? She wanted to be a statue sitting down, sitting down. For all that that meant. And Dr. – Mr. Clyburn, he worked with Martin Luther King, and we have his statue here in the Capitol. We did not know Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass, personally.
[Laughter]
But we're very proud that they are in the Capitol. And actually, Frederick Douglass is a statue from the District of Columbia. Not yet a state. But nonetheless, that still makes Mary – Dr. McLeod Bethune, the first. Again, a real tribute to the state of Florida. What an honor for us all.
Now, since – well, you have to know about Kathy Castor: relentless, persistent, constant, optimistic, creative in every way. And as Members knew what Kathy was up to, they all were sharing their stories, especially when we announced the unveiling of the statue. Barbara Lee told us – Congresswoman Barbara Lee told us that her mother worked with Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Where is Joyce Beatty? I saw her a minute ago. Her grandmother – or your mom? Okay, so her family for a number of generations worked there. And I'm sure many other Members will have their stories about their association.
Again, since the announcement of this statue the Members have been identifying themselves – she had many friends, whether she realized it or not. There many people associating themselves with her.
And how poetic that Dr. Bethune replaces a little-known Confederate general: trading a traitor for a civil rights hero in the Capitol of the United States.
[Applause]
Thank you, Florida. And let us also recognize again, the sculptor – the gifted sculptor, Nilda Comas, who breaks another barrier as was mentioned: as the first Hispanic artist with a piece in the National Statuary Hall collection in the Capitol. Thank you, Nilda.
[Applause]
Again, welcoming the statue is such a privilege for all of us. I was – visited Pietrasanta, the place where this statue was carved. And as the Leader mentioned, this is carrara, the metal of Michelangelo and many great Renaissance artists, and now Nilda. The people in Pietrasanta, right this – at this moment, are celebrating that they have a statue in the Capitol of the United States. And how appropriate, the first by a Hispanic artist.
Welcoming the statue – I think [of] the muse of history, Clio. She records everything that she sees going on in the Capitol. I think today she is smiling extra broadly because of what she is recording here today.
[Applause]
Mary McLeod Bethune sitting – standing next to a seated Rosa Parks. This is quite, quite remarkable. They look quite comfortable together there. And as has been mentioned, Dr. Bethune takes her rightful place here as we honor a legendary American. In doing so, we ensure that young people, all young people, but especially young black women, girls – yes, Congresswoman Wilson, and young boys as well – young people come to this Capitol, and they see a reflection of our nation's beautiful diversity, beautiful success and greater possibilities for them in their future. So as would be with Dr. McLeod [Bethune], having her legacy and her will, as our colleagues have mentioned, to give people faith and hope and confidence in what they could do.
Thank you for everyone who made this possible. Thank you for everyone for being here today. It is a glorious day in the Capitol of the United States. Thank you all for making it so. Thank you.
[Applause]