[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2018)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 5173-5174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02431]


 
 
                         Presidential Documents 
 
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 83 , No. 24 / Monday, February 5, 2018 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 5173]]


                Proclamation 9696 of January 31, 2018

                
National African American History Month, 2018

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                This February, we celebrate National African American 
                History Month to honor the significant contributions 
                African Americans have made to our great Nation--
                contributions that stand as a testament to their 
                resolve, resilience, and courage. Over the course of 
                our Nation's history, African Americans have endured 
                egregious discrimination and bigotry. They have, 
                nevertheless, always been determined to contribute 
                their earnest efforts to America's greatness.

                This annual observance is an opportunity to remember 
                the challenges of our past, but also to honor countless 
                African-American heroes who inspire us to shape our 
                country's future. This year's theme, ``African 
                Americans in Times of War,'' calls our attention to the 
                heroic contributions of African Americans during our 
                Nation's military conflicts, from the Revolutionary War 
                to present-day operations.

                Throughout our history, members of the Armed Forces 
                have fought to secure freedom and liberty for all, 
                defending our country both on our shores and in foreign 
                lands. African Americans have shouldered an enormous 
                share of the burden of battle in every American 
                military engagement, donning our Nation's military 
                uniforms to answer the call of duty. For far too long, 
                African Americans bravely fought and died in the name 
                of freedom, while at the same time struggling to attain 
                equality, respect, and the full privileges of 
                citizenship. Because of their love of country, these 
                heroes insisted on serving and defending America 
                despite racial prejudice, unequal treatment, diminished 
                opportunities, and segregation. Their valorous acts in 
                the face of grave injustice revealed the true meaning 
                of American patriotism--service before self.

                It was not until 1948 that President Harry S. Truman 
                ordered desegregation of the military, providing 
                ``equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons 
                in the Armed Forces without regard to race, color, 
                religion or national origin.'' It took another 5 years 
                before the Secretary of Defense abolished the last 
                segregated African-American military unit. These hard 
                won victories for justice catalyzed other victories, as 
                they cast a harsh light on aspects of our social and 
                civic lives that remained segregated. Those who fought 
                against and ended segregation in the military reminded 
                the Nation of its obligation to the self-evident truth 
                of equality written into the Declaration of 
                Independence.

                We remember soldiers like Sergeant Henry Johnson of the 
                Harlem Hellfighters, the all-black National Guard unit 
                that was among the first American forces to arrive in 
                France during World War I. Johnson suffered 21 wounds 
                during front-line combat and received France's highest 
                award for valor. To acknowledge his exceeding bravery, 
                he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service 
                Cross and a Purple Heart. We remember pilot Benjamin O. 
                Davis, Jr., who commanded the famed Tuskegee Airmen and 
                became the first African American General in the United 
                States Air Force. We remember soldiers like Major 
                Charity Adams Earley, who was commander of the only 
                all-African American Women's Army Corps unit that 
                served overseas during World War II. She was a 
                trailblazer in her

[[Page 5174]]

                efforts to recruit more women to military service in 
                spite of rampant racism and segregation.

                These and countless other African Americans triumphed 
                over ignorance, oppression, and injustice to make 
                indelible contributions, not only to our military 
                history, but even more importantly to our American 
                history. They are an integral part of our Nation's 
                story. We are indebted to the individual and collective 
                perseverance and patriotism of these outstanding men 
                and women, as we are to all African Americans who have 
                served, and continue to serve in the Armed Forces of 
                this great Nation.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim February 2018 as 
                National African American History Month. I call upon 
                public officials, educators, librarians, and all the 
                people of the United States to observe this month with 
                appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                second.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2018-02431
Filed 2-2-18; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F8-P