During a recent congressional hearing of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Land, Rep. James E. Clyburn (D, S.C.-06) made opening remarks on November 19, 2024, in support of the Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act.
Authorizing the National Park Service to plan and support both Federal and non-Federal activities is the goal of the proposed law. The history of the African American Civil Rights struggle would be remembered, honored, and interpreted via these endeavors.
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Clyburn stated, “The importance of the legislation which is scheduled to sunset come January 2025 is embodied in that one word. If I were to mention the name of Rosa Parks here today, most people would know who that was.”
He added, “But if I were to mention the name of Sarah Mae Flemming, I doubt that more than two or three people, if anybody, except maybe Dr. Donaldson, would recognize that name.”
Sarah Mae Flemming, who was six days away from turning 21, made a stand on a bus in Columbia, South Carolina, a year and a half before Rosa Parks famously sat down on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. The Supreme Court decided that woman had the right to sit in any seat on the bus after she filed a complaint after being kicked off.
The Supreme Court noted in a footnote that the matter had previously been settled in the case of Sarah Mae Flemming vs. South Carolina Electric and Gas, thus they did not need to examine it again when they decided on the Rosa Parks case.
This measure is required because of Flemming’s narrative, according to Clyburn, who was just reelected.
Clyburn shared, “Most people don’t know that. That’s the importance of this legislation.”
He continued, “In South Carolina, when I came here 32 years ago, our number one industries were textile and tobacco. I need not tell you what has happened to both of those.”
He further expressed the importance of the industries to the economy, “today, our number one industry is transportation and tourism. And the fastest-growing aspect of tourism is Heritage tourism. And so, this legislation is very very important to my state because it involves a network of 27 other states in designating sites for visitation that will grow the economy most especially in rural communities, and I think that this legislation is deserving of reauthorization.”
Clyburn highlighted the importance of the civil rights movement as a pivotal factor in the development of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Additionally, he emphasized the movement’s contribution to the advancement of social justice and national unity.
