[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 74 (Tuesday, May 2, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF JOHN REED

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 2, 2023

  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the life of 
John Reed, a history teacher, civil rights activist, and cherished 
member of the Cape Cod community.
  The third of five children, John was born on September 28, 1950, to 
parents George and Rachel Reed. John was raised in Dorchester, 
Massachusetts. It was in this same the neighborhood where John first 
met his wife, Karen, in junior high. The two attended Dorchester High 
School together and had their first date at their junior year prom.
  After graduating from Dorchester High School in 1968, John attended 
the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he received both his 
bachelor's and master's in history and education. Tutoring his 
classmates and peers all throughout school, John always had a passion 
for mentoring and helping others from a young age. John continued this 
passion as a teacher at Barnstable High School in 1973, where he taught 
history for 35 years. During his time at Barnstable High School, John 
served as a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the 
National Education Association, as well as a member and the President 
of the Barnstable Teachers Association.
  John constantly strove to support and better the lives of his 
students, especially his students of color. In 1993, John took on the 
role of Barnstable High School's attendance and equity officer. John 
also started the Imani Club, which celebrates and advocates for 
students of color at Barnstable High School. The club's name comes from 
the Swahili word for faith and belief. John's commitment to improving 
equity and diversity in schools did not go unnoticed, John was awarded 
the Human and Civil Rights Award from the Massachusetts Teachers 
Association in 1993 and the H. Councill Trenholm Memorial Award from 
the National Education Association in 2008.
  John's efforts to further human and equal rights were not just 
limited to the classroom. John served as the President of the Cape Cod 
chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People (NAACP) for 17 years from 1991 until 2008. Additionally, he 
founded the Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission in 2005, 
as well as the Barnstable County Human Rights Academy for students 
across Cape Cod. John was also a co-founder of the Zion Union Heritage 
Museum in Hyannis, which celebrates the African American and Cape 
Verdean population on Cape Cod.
  Sadly, John left us too soon on February 10, 2023, at the age of 72. 
A celebration of life is being held on April 29, 2023, to celebrate and 
reflect on the lasting impact John has left on the lives of his 
students and so many others across Cape Cod. Whether during his time at 
Barnstable High School, his years as the Cape Cod NAACP President, or 
his work with the Zion Union Heritage Museum, John's dedication to 
advancing civil rights and giving a voice to marginalized communities 
serves as an example to all.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the life of John Reed and ask that 
my colleagues join me in recognizing his lifetime commitment to 
supporting and advocating for those in his community.

                          ____________________