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“TRIBUTE TO THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF AMELIA PLATTS BOYNTON ROBINSON” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1219 on Sept. 8, 2015.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF AMELIA PLATTS BOYNTON ROBINSON
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HON. TERRI A. SEWELL
of alabama
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the extraordinary life and legacy of an American treasure and one of my personal heroes, the courageous Mrs. Amelia Platts Boynton Robinson. Amelia passed away on August 26, 2015 at the age of 104. While we mourn the loss of this remarkable woman, I am comforted in knowing that her brave spirit will live through her impactful contributions to this nation.
Amelia was a key figure in the voting rights movement in Selma, Alabama and she is often remembered for her historic role as one of the coordinators and marchers on ``Bloody Sunday.'' On that solemn day on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Amelia was savagely beaten and a photo of her taken shortly after she was attacked became a powerful symbol of the injustices suffered by those fighting on the frontlines of the movement.
Yet this fearless revolutionary continued her work as a leader on the frontlines of securing the right to vote for all Americans. She was undeterred by the perils of a racially unjust society that relegated blacks to second-class citizenship. Her story is a testament to her commitment to serving as a conduit for change and a reminder of why we in Alabama lovingly refer to her as the matriarch of the movement.
Amelia was born on August 18, 1911 in Savannah, Georgia. Her mother was an activist during the women's suffrage movement. After the passage of the 19th amendment, she and her mother distributed voter registration information to women from the family's horse and buggy in 1920. Her mother's tireless efforts to secure the right to vote for women would have a lasting impact on Amelia. It also paved the way for the young activist to claim her own place in American history.
Fueled by that same passion, Amelia began her own service to mankind when she and her husband Samuel Boynton fought for voting rights and property ownership for African-Americans in the poorest rural areas of Alabama. She was later named the only female lieutenant to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the civil rights movement. In this role, Amelia traveled alongside Dr. King and often appeared in his stead for various events and gatherings during the movement.
Amelia is also best known for her leadership that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Amelia was such an integral part of the process that the contents of the bill were drafted at her kitchen table in Selma.
On May 5, 1964, Amelia broke yet another barrier when she became the first woman in the state of Alabama to run for a congressional seat. She garnered 10.7 percent of the vote during a time when very few blacks were registered voters. Her historic run further solidified her impact on the movement for human rights in Alabama.
When this extraordinary woman wasn't contributing her time to the causes of her generation, she worked as an educator, a home demonstrations agent with the Department of Agriculture, an insurance agent, an income tax preparer, and a real estate agent. She attended Georgia State Industrial School, which was renamed Savannah State University and Tuskegee Normal, which is now known as Tuskegee University.
Without her courageous campaign for the 7th Congressional District, I know that my election to this seat in 2010 would not have been possible. Her sacrifices paved the way for me to walk the halls of Congress and I will carry my love and admiration for her in my heart each and every day. I will always cherish the time we spent together when she honored me as my special guest for the State of the Union on January 20, 2015. I am grateful for the memories of her greeting President Obama that night and I am so blessed to have called her a beloved mentor and friend.
As she reminded us in life, there is still much work to be done for this nation to live up to its ideals of equality and justice for all. Let us be inspired by the extraordinary life of Amelia to keep striving and working towards a more perfect union. May we honor her by continuing her life's work. I ask my colleagues to join with me in saluting Mrs. Platts Amelia Boynton Robinson, an Alabama gem and an American treasure. Thank you.
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