[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 2, 2001)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 50099-50100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24772]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 191 / Tuesday, October 2, 2001 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 50099]]


                Proclamation 7472 of September 28, 2001

                
National Historically Black Colleges and 
                Universities Week, 2001

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                For more than a century, our Nation's Historically 
                Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have played a 
                vital role in providing opportunities for excellence in 
                higher education to millions of African American 
                students.

                Throughout their history, these institutions of higher 
                learning persevered in the face of many obstacles, 
                offering university degrees to African Americans at a 
                time when most schools refused them admission. Some of 
                our HBCUs began when society was deeply segregated; and 
                some were founded when the Nation still permitted the 
                scourge of slavery. The Civil War eradicated slavery in 
                America; and the United States Supreme Court ended the 
                racial segregation of our schools. Notwithstanding the 
                removal of these blights from the American scene, HBCUs 
                have remained committed to providing African American 
                students with extraordinary educational opportunities. 
                The HBCUs' consistent tradition of offering high-
                quality, academic programs has enabled their students 
                and graduates to prosper.

                The success of our HBCUs should be a source of great 
                pride for all Americans. Almost 300,000 African 
                Americans currently are enrolled in HBCUs, and among 
                their graduates are Members of Congress, hundreds of 
                elected officials, military officers, physicians, 
                teachers, attorneys, judges, ambassadors, and business 
                executives.

                Committed to excellence as well as to opportunity, our 
                HBCUs reflect the determination and spirit that are 
                essential to achieving my Administration's goal of 
                educational success at every level. All Americans 
                should have opportunities to pursue the American dream. 
                Historically Black Colleges and Universities play an 
                essential role in providing access to that dream for 
                African Americans, and I salute them for their 
                continuing commitment to serving African American 
                students.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim September 24 through 
                September 30, 2001, as National Historically Black 
                Colleges and Universities Week. I call upon the people 
                of the United States, including government officials, 
                educators, and administrators, to observe this week 
                with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities, 
                thereby demonstrating our appreciation of and support 
                for these important educational institutions.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand one, and of the

[[Page 50100]]

                Independence of the United States of America the two 
                hundred and twenty-sixth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 01-24772
Filed 10-1-01; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P