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1133461
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4/1/76 - Fair Housing Month Ceremony
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1133461
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document
title
4/1/76 - Fair Housing Month Ceremony
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Carla A. Hills Speeches
Speeches
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Discrimination in housing
Holidays
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1133461
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1976-04-01
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4
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1976
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1
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1976-04-01
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4
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 2, folder "4/1/76 - Fair Housing Month
Ceremony" of the Carla A. Hills Speeches at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 2 of the Carla A. Hills Speeches at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FINAL
FAIR HOUSING MONTH CEREMONY
APRIL 2, 1976
IN THIS BICENTENNIAL YEAR, THE THEME OF so MANY PUBLIC
PANORAMAS AND CELEBRATIONS IS CENTERED ON THE HISTORY OF
OUR PAST.
THAT, CERTAINLY, IS FITTING AND PROPER. BUT, NOSTALGIA
-- DIMMED BY SWIFT PASSAGE OF TIME -- IS A STATE OF MIND
THAT, TOO OFTEN, LEADS US TO FORGET THE HARSH REALITIES OF
THE DAY-BY-DAY STRUGGLES OF THE PAST 200 YEARS THAT BROUGHT
US TO AMERICA-1976.
LET US, THEN, DEDICATE THIS FAIR HOUSING MONTH IN
AMERICA'S BICENTENNIAL YEAR TO THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION
THAT IS YET TO BE WRITTEN. LET US RE-DEDICATE OURSELVES TO
THE DOCTRINE OF FAIRNESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AMERICANS,
LET US so CARRY OUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF OUR TRUST
-- THAT OUR CHILDREN, AND THEIR CHILDREN, AND THEIR CHILDREN
WILL SAY OF OUR BRIEF SEGMENT OF AMERICAN HISTORY: "1976
COMMENCED A FLOWERING OF REASON AND TOTAL AMERICAN COMMITMENT
TO THE IDEALS OF INDEPENDENCE, FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY TO
WHICH THIS NATION DEDICATED ITSELF AND ITS PEOPLE 200 YEARSFORD
EARLIER.'
GERALD LIBRARY
-2-
LET US MARK THIS EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MONUMENTAL
LEGISLATIVE ACTION THAT GAVE AMERICA THE FAIR HOUSING AcT
AS PART OF OUR CIVIL RIGHTS AcT,
BUT LET US MARK IT IN OUR HEARTS AS AN HISTORIC EVENT
THAT WAS 192 YEARS BEHIND THE TIMES,
AND, LET THAT SORRY KNOWLEDGE BE OUR CHALLENGE AND OUR
SPUR TO A PROUD FUTURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD DETERMINEDLY TO
MAKE UP FOR THAT TIME LOST -- OVER WHICH WE HAVE NO CONTROL
AND CANNOT REPLACE IN ANY EVENT.
THE KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORY CAN GIVE US WISDOM, BUT WE
CANNOT GO FORWARD BY FOREVER LOOKING BACKWARD. AND, WE
HAVE OUR OWN WORK TO DO.
As THE LATE WHITNEY YOUNG, LONG-TIME PRESIDENT OF THE
URBAN LEAGUE STATED:
"ONLY THROUGH UNITY CAN WE CUT THROUGH THE UNDERGROWTH
OF MYTH AND MISUNDERSTANDING -- AND UNITE TO FORGE A
NEW COALITION FOR A BETTER TOMORROW."
IN THAT SPIRIT OF UNITY AND WITH THE STRENGTH OF OUR
COMBINED PURPOSE I DEDICATE THIS FAIR HOUSING MONTH AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE THIS MORNING.