[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 83 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 83

          Recognizing the significance of Black History Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 23, 2009

 Mr. Al Green of Texas (for himself, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Clay, 
Mr. Towns, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Watt, Mr. Meeks of New York, Ms. Moore 
of Wisconsin, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. 
    Gene Green of Texas, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Olver, Ms. Kilpatrick of 
   Michigan, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Edwards of Maryland, Mr. Hinojosa, Mr. 
  Langevin, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. Zoe 
Lofgren of California, Mr. Rush, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Conyers, 
  Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. 
  Scott of Georgia, Mr. Davis of Alabama, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Ms. 
     Clarke, Mr. Payne, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Mrs. 
    Christensen, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Ms. Waters, and Ms. Lee of 
 California) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
            the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
          Recognizing the significance of Black History Month.

Whereas the first Africans were brought involuntarily to the shores of America 
        as early as the 17th century;
Whereas these Africans in America and their descendants are now known as 
        African-Americans;
Whereas African-Americans suffered involuntary servitude and subsequently faced 
        the injustices of lynch mobs, segregation, and denial of basic, 
        fundamental rights;
Whereas despite involuntary servitude, African-Americans have made significant 
        contributions to the economic, educational, political, artistic, 
        literary, religious, scientific, and technological advancement of the 
        Americas;
Whereas in the face of injustices, United States citizens of good will and of 
        all races distinguished themselves with their commitment to the noble 
        ideals upon which the United States was founded and courageously fought 
        for the rights and freedom of African-Americans;
Whereas Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived and died to make real these noble 
        ideals;
Whereas the greatness of the United States is reflected in the historic election 
        of Barack Obama, an American of African ancestry, to the Office of the 
        President of the United States of America;
Whereas the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass inspired the 
        creation of Negro History Week, the precursor to Black History Month;
Whereas Negro History Week represented the culmination of Dr. Carter G. 
        Woodson's efforts to enhance knowledge of black history started through 
        the Journal of Negro History, published by Woodson's Association for the 
        Study of African-American Life and History; and
Whereas the month of February is officially celebrated as Black History Month, 
        which dates back to 1926, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson set aside a special 
        period of time in February to recognize the heritage and achievement of 
        Black Americans: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the significance of Black History Month as 
        an important time to recognize the contributions of African-
        Americans in the Nation's history, and encourages the continued 
        celebration of this month to provide an opportunity for all 
        peoples of the United States to learn more about the past and 
        to better understand the experiences that have shaped the 
        Nation; and
            (2) recognizes that the ethnic and racial diversity of the 
        United States enriches and strengthens the Nation.
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