[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 24 (Monday, February 10, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2115-S2116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BLACK HISTORY MONTH

  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the observance 
of Black History Month.
  Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson launched ``Negro History Week'' in 1926 to 
counter widespread ignorance and distortion about the history of 
African Americans in the United States. In 1976, the week was expanded 
to a month and renamed ``Black History Month.'' February was chosen 
because many key dates in black history occur in that month: the 
birthdays of Fredrick Douglass, W.E.B. Dubouis, Langston Hughes, and 
Abraham Lincoln; the founding of the NAACP; the swearing in of the 
first African American Senator, the Honorable Hiram Revels; and passage 
of the 15th amendment to the Constitution proclaiming the right of U.S. 
citizens to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of 
servitude.
  African-Americans are responsible for rich contributions to the State 
of Wisconsin as well as the entire Nation. I would like to encourage 
all Wisconsin residents to honor Black History Month by utilizing local 
resources such

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as America's Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Black 
Historical Society, and the Milwaukee Art Museum. In addition, numerous 
sites around the State commemorate Underground Railroad activity in 
Wisconsin including the Milton House Museum. These sites, as well as 
your local library, are wonderful resources for learning more about the 
invaluable contributions of African-American teachers, writers, 
artists, healers, freedom fighters, farmers, businessmen and women, and 
families to the history of our Nation.
  Many Wisconsin colleges and universities are celebrating African-
American contributions and heritage this February as well. For example, 
the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is holding the annual Soul 
Food Dinner and Gospel Festival. The University of Wisconsin-Superior 
will be hosting a visit from author Bakari Kitwana, and the Association 
of Students of African Descent will sponsor performances of African 
American readings, poetry, and music. At the University of Wisconsin-
Madison, the Wisconsin Black Student Union is sponsoring lectures and 
movie showings.
  As stimulating as all this activity in February is, however, we 
should not relegate the study of black history to just this 1 month. 
February should be, and remain a starting point for a year long and 
life long exploration of the rich and varied contributions of our 
African-American communities.

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