During a reception at the White House on the legacy of black Americans on Monday, US President Joe Biden praised the contribution of African Americans to building the country and emphasized that “black history matters.”
Addressing a large group of black members of Congress, government officials and prominent public figures who attended the Black History Month celebration, an event that US presidents have organized annually for decades, Biden said, “History is important, and black history is important.”
Biden drew attention to the presence of all the leaders of the so-called “Divine Nine”, that is, “historic black universities and colleges”, which is a group of US institutions of higher education founded before 1964 with the aim of providing education to African Americans.
Biden stressed that his administration is the first in history to host all nine Divine Nine presidents at the same event, adding that he has established a permanent office for the Divine Nine in the White House.
He said, “By the way, I may be a white boy, but I’m not stupid. I know what strength is. You think I’m joking, but I learned about the Divine Nine a long time ago,” laughter from the audience.
????#VIOLATION: President Biden at the White House Black History Month reception today says, “I may be a white boy, but I’m not stupid. I know where the power is.” pic.twitter.com/GtqNpnxPOT
– RAWSALERTS (@rawsalerts) February 27, 2023
Biden noted that his administration is “the most diverse in history” and reviewed his efforts to improve the living conditions of black Americans.
Biden said Americans “can’t just choose to know what we want to know, but they need to know everything, good and bad and the truth, and who we are as a nation,” adding that “that’s what the greats do.” nation.” “.
Biden’s remarks come as some conservative Republicans, most notably Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, are pushing for a change in the way black history is taught in American schools.
Source: US media