b'CITY EMPLOYEES UNION LOCAL 237AFFILIATED WITH THEINTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS216 West 14th Street New York, NY 10011-7296Carter G. Woodson, known as the father of black history, who launched the celebrationofNegro History Week in 1926, famously said: Those who have no history of what theirforebears have accomplished lose inspiration which comes from the teaching of biographyand history. Teamsters Local 237 Oral History Project in Puerto Rico addresses that sentiment verywell. Conceived by Nancy B. True, the Director of the Retiree Division, more than 25 yearsago, this huge undertaking is not only about Local 237s past, but also about our future. The project records more than six decades of advocacy on behalf of our members, as well asenshrines the richness of our cultural diversity we so proudly proclaim. With many of our retirees of Puerto Rican descent having moved back to Puerto Rico, the Oral History Projectand the resulting book was a natural fit and became a labor of love about labor. The historian, Ken Burns once said: People tend to forget that the word history contains the word story. That does not apply here. The Oral History Project and this bookrecount the past remembered by people who lived it. They offer their remembrances in a passionate, compelling way that no mere textbook could ever capture. The pictures and artifacts of their experiences are not antiques, but treasures which will make current and future members feel inspired and proud.As former President Barack Obama said: The best history doesnt just sit behind a glass case; it helps us to understand whats outside the case.I thank all of the participantsin this project for sharing their stories, and Nancy True for having the insight to understand the value of preserving our past. In solidarity,Gregory Floyd,President of Teamsters Local 237 and Vice President at-Large on the General Board of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters3 '