National Forum on Information Literacy Pays Tribute to an Early Pioneer

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Oct. 28, 2013 - PRLog -- As we come to a close of another National Information Literacy Awareness Month (October), we want to pay special tribute to one of its early pioneers, Congressman Major R. Owens.  "Information literacy is needed to guarantee the survival of democratic institutions. All men are created equal but voters with information resources are in a position to make more intelligent decisions than citizens who are information illiterates."

Congressman Owens passed away on Monday, October 21, 2013 at the age of 77 at the New York Langone Medical Center in Manhattan.

Congressman Owens served in the U.S. Congress for 12 terms, 1983-2007, representing the 12^th Congressional district in Brooklyn, New York, a redistrict seat once held by Shirley A. Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to Congress as well as the first Black candidate for the Presidency of the United States.

A graduate of Morehouse College and Clark Atlantic University, Congressman Owens, a productive legislator, was the first professionally trained librarian to serve in the House of the U.S. Congress.  As a staunch advocate for information literacy, he saw the role of the professional librarian as more than just the knowledge gatekeeper – “Librarians, the expert generalists, have the capability to stay current with this world of megachange.  Information will play a major role in all of the decisions that are made by those who seek to guide and navigate this rapidly moving society.  This is the age of information and the voice of the librarian must be heard.”

His legislative record demonstrated his deep commitment and passion for education, the underserved, and working families in the U.S., exemplified by such legislation as the 1990 Americans for Disabilities Act.

Congressman Owens was also an aspiring poet, some would say a rap poet who, from time to time, would read into the congressional record poems addressing issues he felt critically important to the social and political welfare of the American people.

In honor of our 20^th anniversary celebration and our receipt of the inaugural proclamation establishing National Information Literacy Awareness Month by President Obama in 2009, Congressman Owens wrote the following rap/poem:

The Power of the Search

Line the citizens in a row

Empower them forward toward the glow

Cause they all need to know

The tricky switches and levers

That make our great planet go.

Information!

Vital nutrient for civilization

Information!

Information begets civilization!

Knowledge born

From glorious mental masturbation

Line the citizens in a row

Empower them forward toward the glow

Cause they all need to know

The tricky switches and levers

That make our great planet go.

Information!

In acknowledging his passing, the current Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Representative Marcia O. Fudge (OH-11) stated, “Today we mourn the passing of a remarkable public servant, community leader and dear friend. Congressman Major Owens dedicated his life to empowering, securing and protecting the rights of underserved communities. Through his work, Mr. Owens helped build diverse coalitions of marginalized individuals who worked together to bring about the reform and social change needed to improve conditions for people across this nation."

Upon his retirement from Congress in 2001, Congressman Owens became a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress. In his golden years, Congressman Owens taught public administration at CUNY/ Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn and wrote a case study about his experiences in Congress and his work with the Congressional Black Caucus entitled The Peacock Elite.

The National Forum on Information Literacy (NFIL) (http://infolit.org/about-the-nfil/our-mission/) is a non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to mainstreaming information and digital literacy practice at home and abroad. As we move further into the 21st century, information literacy will become the standard-bearer for academic achievement, workforce productivity, healthcare access, competitive advantage, and national security.