During every February since 1976, we celebrate National African American History Month, an occasion to remember the contributions made by African-Americans in countless aspects of American life. It’s also a time for somber reflection. We honor those who dedicated themselves to the pursuit of equality in the face of racial hatred and violence in order to move our nation closer to our founding principle that we are all created equal. Some, like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers, ultimately gave their lives in the long struggle for justice.

From the 19th-century abolition movement to the civil rights movement which continues today, New York State has played an integral role in the fight for equality and justice. After escaping from slavery herself, Harriet Tubman became one of the most prominent leaders of the Underground Railroad, making New York an important stop and helping hundreds of slaves escape their captors.

What many don’t know, however, is that during the Civil War, Tubman led a contingent of black Union soldiers in a raid to rescue hundreds of fugitive slaves along the Combahee River in South Carolina. The raid relied heavily on Tubman’s knowledge of Confederate torpedo placement along the river which allowed Union ships to navigate these treacherous waters unharmed.¹ Tubman eventually made Auburn, New York, her home, and her house now serves as a museum honoring her legacy.

Another pioneering New Yorker, who pushed the cause of equality forward about a hundred years after Tubman, is Shirley Chisholm. Chisholm was born in Brooklyn in 1924 and served in the state Assembly from 1964 to 1968 before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She was the first African-American woman elected to Congress and won re-election six times. In 1972, Chisholm again made history when she announced her candidacy for president, the first woman and the first African-American to do so. Though her bid was unsuccessful, Chisholm helped pave the way for Jesse Jackson’s campaign in 1984 and, of course, former President Obama’s election in 2008.

In addition to celebrating these courageous and selfless leaders of the past, we must also focus on the present. The divisiveness sown by the recent presidential election has shown us yet again that our nation is still struggling to overcome ignorance and hate. As we move forward into an uncertain future, we can’t allow the progress of national heroes like Dr. King to be squandered in the face of adversity. Now is the time to stand together and continue our march toward equality.

The Assembly will continue to fight for the issues that have long been at the forefront of our progressive agenda – the issues that serve as the pillars of equality. We will push to invest in quality public education, help make a college degree accessible and affordable for all, make it easier for businesses to create good-paying jobs and ensure our criminal justice system treats everyone fairly so that each and every New Yorker has the opportunity for a good life.

As we face these trying times, I’m reminded of moving quotes from African-American leaders. W.E.B. Du Bois said, “The battle for humanity is not lost or losing… The morning breaks over blood-stained hills. We must not falter, we may not shrink. [For] above are the everlasting stars.” Coretta Scott King declared, “Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation.” And former President Obama said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

So this February, I encourage all of you to recommit yourselves to the fight for equality and the pursuit of justice. We must always remember where we’ve been and, more importantly, where we must go.

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