Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) honored the lives and legacies of Black leaders in Michigan's 8th district as well as the MLK Commission of Mid-Michigan, in honor of Black History Month. In speeches on the floor of the U.S. House, Slotkin's recognitions ensure the memory and legacy of these leaders exists from now on in the official Congressional Record of the People's House.
Slotkin's full remarks as prepared, for each honoree, are below:
Olivia Letts, Lansing (Video of Slotkin's Remarks can be viewed here):
I rise today to honor Olivia Letts, who passed away on February 1st at the age of 93. Ms. Letts was a true trailblazer. After being hired as the first Black school teacher in Lansing, she was a constant force for good in the community. It is my privilege to honor her with these remarks on the floor of the People's House.
Born on the south side of Chicago, Ms. Letts didn't let anything get in the way of her own education. According to her grandsons, the only time she was ever late to school was because of a trolley accident. At the rooming house that she and her family shared with other families, she would wake up as early as 4 am to study in the bathroom because it was the only time she could find peace and quiet.
She maintained her devotion to learning during her time at the Chicago Teachers College and her three advanced degree programs at Michigan State University. Nothing could keep Ms. Letts from the classroom — not even the racial discrimination of the day. To be sure, breaking the color barrier in Lansing schools wasn't easy. The first time she applied to be a teacher, she was rejected with a letter that said the district, "had never made a practice of hiring anyone of her race, but would keep her under consideration."
Undeterred, Ms. Letts lobbied local leaders until she was asked to reapply. Ten years later, she was promoted to principal. Ms. Letts' story wouldn't be complete without mention of her husband and lifelong love, Richard, who passed away in 1997.
For nearly half a century, their union was an unstoppable force for good in Lansing — she, as the consummate advocate and role model for students, and he, as the city's equal opportunity officer and human relations director for 44 years. They are the namesake of the Letts Community Center — where this photo was taken.
Ms. Letts was an eternal optimist. She liked books with happy endings — whether they were Nicholas Sparks novels or President Obama's memoirs. She lived a full life, and her story had a happy ending, too. Just a few days before her passing, she parked herself in front of the television, thrilled to watch her fellow Alpha Kappa Alpha sister, Kamala Harris, be inaugurated as vice president.
She is survived by her daughter, Eileen, her two grandsons, Robert and Matthew, as well as the countless individuals she touched with her grace and humility. Since her passing, the tributes to her life have been effusive:
"She was just delightful."
"She helped pave the way."
"She just did what was right."
And my personal favorite, "Her legacy lives on in the work that folks are doing here in the community."
What a fitting way to remember such a towering fixture of the Lansing community. May she indeed live on in the work — and in these words spoken into the permanent record of the People's House.
Coach James Bibbs, Lansing (Video of Slotkin's Remarks can be viewed here):
Today I rise to honor another legend in the Lansing community, Mr. James Bibbs. Mr. Bibbs has had many words written about him over the years — and almost all of them mention his distinction as the longest-tenured track-and-field coach in Michigan State University history.
From 1968 to 1995, his students won 52 Big Ten titles, 26 All-American honors, three NCAA titles, and broke two world records. But those who know Coach Bibbs will tell you that it's never been about the number of titles or his own career. What's distinguished him over the years has the size of his heart and the kindness he's shown over the course of his life.
From high school to AAU club teams, collegiate squads to national and international teams, Coach Bibbs lived by the words he spoke in 2010 when he was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame: "I just loved track and I loved to work with youngsters." And yet, it almost didn't happen. After graduating as a star baseball recruit from Ecorse High School, he turned down a minor league contract offered by the Yankees to attend Eastern Michigan University. At the time, EMU didn't have a freshman baseball team, so he decided to join the track team instead. And as with the races he would win as a champion sprinter, he never looked back.
Mr. Bibbs later became a teacher in Detroit before assuming the title of coach for the first time in 1959. He led his hometown high school in Ecorse to multiple championships before arriving in East Lansing as an assistant in 1968 — the first African American coach ever hired at Michigan State.
In 1977, Coach Bibbs became head coach, and over the next 27 years, he inspired hundreds of student athletes to be their best selves by connecting their personal achievements on the track with personal achievement in life. Many of his former runners have credited him with planting the seeds of confidence that allowed them to compete all over the world. It's no surprise that several of them have paid it forward by becoming track coaches themselves.
Today, his path has taken him full circle as a volunteer with the team at East Lansing High School, where his son is principal. Even after all the Hall of Fame inductions and all the honors bestowed, Mr. Bibbs is still the same gentle and humble man he's always been. A man who loves track and the lessons it can teach others.
His wife, Martha, who passed away in October of last year, was his partner for 50 years. A trailblazer in her own right, she was the first woman and first Black woman to serve as personnel director for the state of Michigan. The two were a power couple in Lansing, recognized for their high-profile jobs and their contributions to the community.
It's my honor to deliver these remarks so that Coach Bibbs' achievements may forever exist in the Congressional Record as a proud Spartan, as a legend in the track and field community, and as a pioneer for equality.
Greg Eaton, Lansing (Video of Slotkin's Remarks can be viewed here):
I rise to celebrate a living legend in Lansing, Mr. Gregory Eaton, proprietor of Gregory's Soul Food Bar and Grill. Mr. Eaton embodies the motto of "no job too small, no job too large." It may be his name on the door but he's often found on the floor, busing tables, offering refills, and making sure that guests are taken care of.
Growing up, Mr. Eaton developed a legendary work ethic that continues to inspire to this day. His first jobs were shining shoes for his dad, who worked at the Lansing Country Club and later ran a shoe repair store. When Mr. Eaton was 20 years old, he founded his first company, Greg's Janitorial Service, with the slogan, "We search for dirt." He won cleaning contracts the old-fashioned way: by word of mouth, working hard, helping others.
He hired local student athletes as a way to help them — even future superstars like Magic Johnson punched a time card under Mr. Eaton, for $1.65 an hour. Mr. Eaton has lived a life out of a movie: he's one of only a handful of individuals to have attended all 53 Super Bowls in person.
He's been to title fights, the Masters, and was even in the stands at the 1968 Olympics when Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists on the podium. But no matter how far and wide he travels, Mr. Eaton's heart remains in Lansing. It remains with his three kids, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. And it remains with all the individuals he has helped along the way with his neverending generosity.
Even in the midst of a pandemic that has claimed so many local restaurants, Gregory's Soul Food has been able to keep its doors open, thanks to a loyal and dependable clientele. Gregory's is an institution — just the like man it's named after.
And so today, I'm proud to recognize him on the floor of the People's House, so that future generations may learn about his selfless service to our Lansing community.
James Riley Sr. and James Riley Jr., Lansing (Video of Slotkin's Remarks can be viewed here):
I rise today to recognize a father-and-son duo who, between them, have served Lansing for over 60 years: James Riley Sr. and James Riley Jr. Their story begins when the elder Riley moved to Michigan after graduating high school at the age of 17. He took a job at the Ford plant in River Rouge, but left two years later to join the military when World War II broke out.
While stationed in Charleston, he met his future wife of 70 years, Deresa, at a dance. They moved back to Detroit soon after and Mr. Riley used his GI benefits to attend Wayne State University while working at the post office. On the advice of a friend, he majored in mortuary science — obtaining his license before moving to Lansing and starting Riley Funeral Home in 1957.
As the oldest Black-owned funeral home, and perhaps even the oldest Black-owned business in Lansing, the Riley name is synonymous with being active in the community, being kind and courteous, and serving families with professionalism and grace. But it wasn't an easy path. When Mr. Riley first set out to get his business off the ground, he found that no bank would extend him a loan. It was a time when financial institutions could deny a man a line of credit based on the color of his skin.
Indeed, Mr. Riley would later recall that loan officers seemed almost amused by the novelty of a Black man asking for a loan. So he turned to the community, cobbling together his savings with some contributions from his sisters and friends who sold or lent him equipment. At first, business was slow — they had just 7 services in their first year.
This was in the late 50s, a time when African Amerians would routinely be turned away from other funeral homes. If and when they were able to secure a service, they were typically assigned a date and relegated to the afternoon — after the white services were finished in the morning. And so it went for the Rileys in their first decade in operation, working hard to earn the trust of the community with sincerity and good faith.
It took time and concerted effort, but by the time James Jr. took over the business from his parents in 1993, Riley Funeral Home was handling over 150 services a year. In a business that operates on trust, the younger Riley has taken his family's business even further, making sure that every family that comes to him is treated with care, compassion, and respect.
After almost 30 years at the helm, James Jr. has devoted the same attention to detail and standard of excellence that his father was known for. James Sr. passed away in 2016, one year after Deresa. And while they may be gone, it is clear that their legacy lives on in their son.
Last October, I had the opportunity to visit Riley Funeral Home and talk to James personally about his family's story. He shared how Black-owned businesses were routinely discriminated against and regularly denied capital and credit. It is thanks to legislation passed by this body that that discrimination is no longer the case.
The Rileys have overcome tremendous obstacles to get to where they are. It is my honor to recognize both father and son today so that their contributions to the Lansing community may live on in the permanent record of the House of Representatives.
The MLK Commission of Mid Michigan (Video of Slotkin's Remarks can be viewed here).
I rise today to recognize an organization that has been on the front lines advocating for racial equality for over 40 years: the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan. Founded in 1979 with the goal of establishing a federal holiday for the icon of the civil rights movement, the MLK Commission realized its mission just four years after its founding.
Ever since, the group has been working to preserve the legacy and teachings of Dr. King, in part by supporting community agencies and empowering youth to achieve their goals. The Commission's success can be found in its record: 40 high schoolers sponsored each year to go on a college tour of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, more than $100,000 in scholarships awarded, and more than $70,000 in grants given to local entities.
In years past, the Commission has sent delegations to notable milestone events, from the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture to the 55th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma. Under the capable leadership of Ms. Elaine Hardy, its Chairperson, the MLK Commission has flourished as a proud beacon of justice for our state.
But to really understand its impact, you need only look at its annual Day of Celebration: the largest and longest running in the entire country. Every third Monday of January, more than 1,500 attendees come together in the Greater Lansing area to recognize local students, hear from keynote speakers, and recommit to the unfinished work Dr. King left behind.
Each celebration is focused around one of Dr. King's quotes. For this year's event, held remotely for the first time due to the pandemic, the Commission selected "Out of a Mountain of Despair, a Stone of Hope," and invited Bernice King to address the group. At a time when we face unprecedented challenges, the MLK Commission of Mid-Michigan is that stone of hope for so many in our beloved community.
For 42 years, the Commission has shown what's possible when folks from all walks of life come together under the banner of equality and justice for all. May it continue to shine as an example of community leadership for the next 42 years and may its legacy live on forever in the official record of the U.S. Congress.
Original source can be found here.
