[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 125, 112th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 8717 of September 16, 2011

National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
More than 150 years ago, courageous men and women took great risks and
made extraordinary sacrifices to establish our country's first African-
American colleges and universities. These institutions remain at

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the forefront of providing educational opportunities to young people
across our country today. During National Historically Black Colleges
and Universities Week, we pay homage to the daring leaders who laid the
foundation for these institutions, and we reaffirm our commitment to
ensuring Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) remain
pathways to realizing the American dream.
Founded by visionaries, HBCUs have given generations of students a sense
of their heritage, their history, and their place in the American
narrative. They have produced many of our Nation's leaders in business,
government, academia, and the military. Today, we recognize them as the
crucibles of learning, where a young legal student discovered the sense
of purpose that led him to the Supreme Court, a young broadcaster with a
unique name gained the foundation to build an empire, and a young
preacher grew into a king who shared his dream with the world.
HBCUs continue a proud tradition as vibrant centers of intellectual
inquiry and engines of scientific discovery and innovation. New waves of
students, faculty, and alumni are building on their rich legacies and
helping America achieve our goal of once again leading the world in
having the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020. This week,
as we celebrate the vast contributions HBCUs have made to our Nation, we
are reminded of their role in fulfilling a great American truth--that
equal access to a quality education can open doors for all our people.
By continuing to strengthen HBCUs, we ensure they remain beacons of hope
for future generations of Americans who will move our country closer to
the ideals of our founding.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, 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 September 18 through
September 24, 2011, as National Historically Black Colleges and
Universities Week. I call upon educators, public officials, professional
organizations, corporations, and all the people of the United States to
observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities
that acknowledge the numerous contributions these institutions and their
alumni have made to our country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA