Remarks on Signing the
National Historically Black Colleges Week Proclamation
The President. When our administration
came to
Listen
to this record of achievement: Black colleges and universities have educated 50
percent of our black business executives, 75 percent of our black military
officers, 80 percent of our black judges, and 85 percent of
Then,
too, we've worked to see to it that students would have economic opportunties after graduation to complement the educational
opportunties they benefited from while still in
college. Indeed, in large measure because we've cut taxes and worked to limit
the economic role of government, today our nation is enjoying one of the
longest periods of peacetime economic expansion in history -- 57 months and
still counting.
During
these 57 months, black employment has moved forward twice as fast as white
employment. Since 1982 the real income of black families has increased almost
40 percent faster than white family income, and the share of black families in
the highest income brackets has nearly doubled. And this past August the
percentage of blacks employed was the highest on record, as was the percentage
of all Americans employed. Surveying this record, economist Warren Brookes
concluded, and I'll quote: ``On every front -- jobs, income, even household
wealth -- this 1981 through 1986, has been the best 5 economic years in black
history.''
Just
yesterday there was still more good news, right there on the front page of the
New York Times. The Times reported that -- and I'll be quoting again -- ``Black
high school students across the country are making steady gains in the scores
they achieve on standardized college admission tests.'' Well, there is
something profound here in this connection between educational achievement and
economic growth. You see, I'm convinced that the one has a great deal to do
with the other, that education represents an investment in the future and that
the investment becomes more inviting when the future itself looks brighter. In
the words of author George Gilder: ``Economic opportunities summon initiatives.
Initiatives develop character and a sense of responsibility, a feeling of
optimism. The future looks more open and promising to students than it did
before for the simple reason that it is more open and promising.''
You
know, I can't help thinking that the goals Americans set for themselves
in the days of my own youth seem so modest: indoor plumbing, electricity, a
family car, a telephone. I remember living in a home without indoor plumbing.
Today jet airplanes carry passengers -- even those of modest means -- from
coast to coast and overseas, while our engineers are busy developing crafts
that one day will take off from a runway and carry us into space. And
discoveries in the field of superconductivity are coming so rapidly that
research results are often out of date before they're in print.
Yes,
these are exciting days -- exciting days above all for young Americans and
those who educate them. For black Americans, there is additional excitement --
the excitment that goes with breaking the bonds of prejudice, that goes with the defeat of discrimination.
Perhaps, then, it's in the years ahead that our black colleges and universities
will contribute the most to our nation, surpassing even the enormous
contributions they've made in the past, making ever greater strides toward the
achievement of a genuine opportunity society.
Today
it's our privilege to have with us 30 students who represent this future, 30
students who have been chosen as the finest undergraduate students in
mathematics, engineering, and science at historically black colleges and
universities. They were nominated by the presidents of their colleges and
selected by a distinguished panel of leaders in higher education. Later today
they will receive awards sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of
To
you 30 students: You represent the shining hope of
Thank
you. Now you may be seated. [Laughter] Because, if I may, there are two
students in particular I'd like to recognize -- I hope I have the name right:
Mr. Patrick Lafontant and Mr. Gregory B. Owens.
Mr.
Lafontant graduated from the U.S. Navy's broadened
opportunity for officer selection and training program and is currently
attending
Midshipman
Second Class Owens -- and I have to look both ways -- they've not been pointed
out as to which is which -- is a national scholarship midshipman majoring in
chemistry at Savannah State College in
And,
gentlemen, your achievements are truly remarkable, as is your dedication to the
Nation. And your Commander in Chief would like to salute you. But now it's my
honor to sign the bill and the proclamation making the week of 21 to 27
September, ``National Historically Black Colleges Week.'' And I think there are
some people who should come up here and stand behind me while I do this signing.
All right? I know it's going to be a little crowded
back there. And I know what you've had to do with bringing about this day.
Now, the bill first, and the proclamation. Well, thank you all for
being here. God bless you.
Reporter. Mr. President, will you also sign the Gramm-Rudman fix? Will you also sign the Gramm-Rudman bill, Mr. President?
The President. Can't you see the wheels turning? I'm still working on
that. [Laughter]
Note: The President
spoke at