Statement by Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis commemorating National African-American History Month

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement commemorating National African-American History Month:

"This month, I am proud to celebrate the innumerable accomplishments of the African-American community to awakening our highest ideals and enriching our national life. From growing our economy to fighting for equal justice to opening the eyes of a nation to the dignity of work, the relentless pride and resolve of our African-American brothers and sisters have advanced our democratic experiment and provided a beacon of hope around the world.

"The story of African-American resilience and this community's emergence from bondage to betterment carries powerful lessons about the limitless potential of the human race. In these challenging economic times, when so many African-Americans in communities throughout our country have rejected despair and instead shown their steadfast determination to create a better life for themselves and their families, I recall the words of the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who once said, "I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits."