[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 36 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 36

          Recognizing the significance of Black History Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 12, 2011

 Mr. Al Green of Texas (for himself, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Baca, 
  Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Rush, Mr. 
Hastings of Florida, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Ross of Arkansas, Mr. 
  Grijalva, Mr. Dingell, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Sires, Ms. Jackson Lee of 
  Texas, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Ms. Moore, Mr. 
 Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Norton, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Cummings, 
   Mr. Towns, Ms. Wilson of Florida, and Mr. Ellison) 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 the 
        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 enslavement and subsequently faced the 
        injustices of lynch mobs, segregation, and denial of basic, fundamental 
        rights;
Whereas despite slavery, African-Americans in all walks of life have made 
        significant contributions throughout the history of the United States, 
        including through the--

    (1) writings of Booker T. Washington, Phyllis Wheatley, James Baldwin, 
Toni Morrison, Ralph Ellison, Zora Neale Hurston, and Alex Haley;

    (2) music of Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Bessie 
Smith and Duke Ellington;

    (3) resolve of athletes such as Jackie Robinson, Althea Gibson, Jesse 
Owens, Wilma Rudolph and Muhammad Ali;

    (4) scientific advancements of George Washington Carver, Charles Drew, 
Benjamin Banneker, and Mae Jemison;

    (5) vision of leaders such as Frederick Douglass, Mary McLeod Bethune, 
Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King, and Shirley Chisholm; and

    (6) bravery of those who stood on the front lines in the battle against 
oppression, such as Sojourner Truth, Fannie Lou Hammer, and Rosa Parks;

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 
        ideas;
Whereas Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th President of the United 
        States, making him the first African-American chief executive and 
        breaking one of the last racial barrier in politics in this country;
Whereas the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick 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 ethnic and racial diversity of the 
        United States enriches and strengthens the Nation.
                                 <all>