[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2020)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 6719-6720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02429]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 85 , No. 24 / Wednesday, February 5, 2020 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 6719]]


                Proclamation 9987 of January 31, 2020

                
National African American History Month, 2020

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Through bravery, perseverance, faith, and resolve--
                often in the face of incredible prejudice and 
                hardship--African Americans have enhanced and advanced 
                every aspect of American life. Their fight for 
                equality, representation, and respect motivates us to 
                continue working for a more promising, peaceful, and 
                hopeful future for every American. During National 
                African American History Month, we honor the 
                extraordinary contributions made by African Americans 
                throughout the history of our Republic, and we renew 
                our commitment to liberty and justice for all.

                The theme of this year's observance, ``African 
                Americans and the Vote,'' coincides with the 150th 
                anniversary of the 15th Amendment, which gave African 
                American men the right to vote. This Amendment to the 
                Constitution, ratified in 1870, prohibits the 
                government from denying or abridging a citizen's right 
                to vote based on ``race, color, or previous condition 
                of servitude.'' Today, this guarantee is enforced 
                primarily throughout the Voting Rights Act of 1965, an 
                enduring legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, 
                Jr., and the Civil Rights movement.

                This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the first 
                African American to serve in the Congress. In 1870, 
                Hiram Revels, a Mississippi Republican, served a 1-year 
                term in the Senate, where he fought for justice and 
                racial equality. During his lifetime, Senator Revels 
                served as a military chaplain, a minister with the 
                African Methodist Episcopal Church, and a college 
                administrator. But it was Revels' tenure in the 
                Congress that truly distinguished him as a trailblazer. 
                He made history serving our Nation in a building that 
                had been constructed by slave laborers just a decade 
                earlier.

                My Administration has made great strides in expanding 
                opportunity for people of all backgrounds. Over the 
                past 2 years, the poverty and unemployment rates for 
                African Americans have reached historic lows. Through 
                the transformative Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, more than 
                8,700 distressed communities battling economic hardship 
                have been designated Opportunity Zones, creating a path 
                for struggling communities to unlock investment 
                resources and create much needed jobs and community 
                amenities. I also signed into law the historic First 
                Step Act, which rolled back unjust provisions of the 
                Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 
                which disproportionately harmed African American 
                communities. The First Step Act provides inmates with 
                opportunities for job training, education, and 
                mentorship. We want every person leaving prison to have 
                the tools they need to take advantage of a second 
                chance to transform their lives and pursue the American 
                dream after incarceration. Additionally, last December, 
                I was proud to sign into law the groundbreaking FUTURE 
                Act, which ensures full support for historically black 
                colleges and universities over the next 10 years.

                Our great Nation is strengthened and enriched by 
                citizens of every race, religion, color, and creed. 
                This month, we celebrate the cultural heritage, diverse 
                contributions, and unbreakable spirit of African 
                Americans. We commend the heroes, pioneers, and common 
                Americans who tirelessly fought for--and firmly 
                believed in--the promise of racial equality granted by 
                our

[[Page 6720]]

                Creator, enshrined in our Constitution, and enacted 
                into our laws. We pledge to continue to stand against 
                the evils of bigotry, intolerance, and hatred so that 
                we may continue in our pursuit of a more perfect Union.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim February 
                2020 as National African American History Month. I call 
                upon public officials, educators, and all Americans 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 twenty, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                fourth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2020-02429
Filed 2-4-20; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F0-P