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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 27, 2013 09:55 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Louise Williams Bishop |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Resolution Saluting the lasting Legacy and Achievements of Dr. Cynthia DeLores Tucker |
| In the near future, I plan on introducing a resolution recognizing and honoring the many achievements and contributions that Dr. C. DeLores Tucker made to the community, the state of Pennsylvania and the nation. Born in Philadelphia on October 4, 1927, Dr. Tucker dedicated her life to eliminating racial barriers by championing civil rights and the rights of women. Dr. Tucker became the first African American and the first woman to serve on the Philadelphia Zoning Board. In 1965, in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Tucker participated in the White House Conference on Civil Rights and marched from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in support of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Dr. C. DeLores Tucker was named Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1971. This made her the first female African American secretary of state in the nation. Under her leadership, Pennsylvania became one of the first states to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, lowering the voting age from 21 to 18, and instituting voter registration through mail. She was responsible for the Governor's appointment of the highest number of female judges and the appointment of the most women and minorities to boards and commissions in the history of the state. She served from 1971-1977. In 1984, Dr. Tucker founded the National Political Congress of Black Women, now known as the National Congress of Black Women (NCBW), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the educational, political, economic, and cultural development of African American women and their families. Renowned as a tireless community activist and fair minded leader, Dr. Tucker was the first African American to serve as the President of the National Federation of Democratic Women. In 1995, Dr. Tucker was named one of People Magazine's "25 of the World's Most Intriguing People", and she was featured in the inaugural issue of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s George Magazine for her crusade against the use of illicit language in music, such as gangsta rap, and the sale of gangsta rap to minors. As a student of history, Dr. Tucker led the successful campaign to have a bust of the pioneering activist and suffragist Sojourner Truth installed in the United States Capitol, along with other suffragette leaders. Dr. Tucker died on October 12, 2005, in Norristown, PA. In eulogizing Dr. Tucker, the Reverend Jesse Jackson stated that she was "a woman regal, royal and rare with non-negotiable dignity". In honor of her tireless activism, a Pennsylvania Historical Marker Honoring Dr. Tucker was dedicated at 670 Lincoln Drive in Philadelphia in 2006. March is 'National Women's History Month" and highlights the many accomplishments and contributions that women have made to this nation. During this month and throughout the year it is important that we take time out to recognize women who have made remarkable contributions to society. Please join me in encouraging the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to recognize the legacy and the very important role that Dr. C. DeLores Tucker played in the history of this Commonwealth and the nation. |
Introduced as HR236