    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9841 of January 31, 2019

    National African American History Month, 2019

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    In the year 1619, a Dutch trading ship sailed into the Chesapeake Bay
    and dropped anchor at Point Comfort, Virginia. The vessel's arrival
    marked the beginning of the unscrupulous slave trade in the American
    colonies. It was from this immoral origin--and through inhuman
    conditions, discrimination, and prolonged hardship--that emerged the
    vibrant culture, singular accomplishments, and groundbreaking triumphs
    that we honor and celebrate during National African American History
    Month.
    National African American History Month is an occasion to rediscover the
    enduring stories of African Americans and the gifts of freedom, purpose,
    and opportunity they have bestowed on future generations. It is also a
    time to commemorate the countless contributions of African Americans,
    many of whom lived through and surmounted the scourge of segregation,
    racial prejudice, and discrimination to enrich every fiber of American
    life. Their examples of heroism, patriotism, and enterprise have given
    people of all backgrounds confidence, courage, and faith to pursue their
    own dreams.

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    This year's theme, ``Black Migrations,'' highlights the challenges and
    successes of African Americans as they moved from farms in the
    agricultural South to centers of industry in the North, Midwest, and
    West--especially the migrations that occurred in the twentieth century.
    Through these migrations, millions of African Americans reshaped the
    demographic landscape of America, starting new lives in cities such as
    Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, and New York City.
    In that time of great change, inspirational leaders, such as Annie
    Turnbo Malone, charted a new path for many African American men and
    women. Annie Malone, the daughter of former slaves, became one of the
    most successful entrepreneurs in America at the turn of the century, and
    provided opportunities for African Americans to pursue meaningful
    careers. Through mentorship and education, she empowered others to start
    their own businesses. She is one of many inspirational African Americans
    in an era that also produced luminaries such as Mary McLeod Bethune and
    Booker T. Washington, both of whom encouraged and emboldened
    disenfranchised black students to push through obstacles and realize
    their God-given potential.
    American history brims with the stories of African Americans who forever
    changed their communities and our country. We will, for example, never
    forget the legendary ``Queen of Soul,'' Aretha Franklin, whose
    unforgettable voice transcended genre and left music transformed, and
    whose broad appeal in an era of deep division helped to bridge racial
    divides. Another trailblazer, baseball legend Jackie Robinson, known
    ubiquitously in Major League Baseball as ``42,'' shattered institutional
    racism in American athletics when he became the first African-American
    player to appear in a big league game. Over his career, his exceptional
    talent and noble character in the face of racial hatred undermined the
    twin false ideologies of segregation and racial inequality. The spirit
    and determination of these and other African American heroes make our
    Nation proud and define what it means to be American.
    National African American History Month is a call to each and every
    citizen of our great land to reflect on the cultural, scientific,
    political, and economic contributions of African Americans, which are
    woven throughout American society. We remember, learn from, and build on
    the past, so that, together, we can build a better and more prosperous
    future for all Americans.
    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 2019 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 nineteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    third.
    DONALD J. TRUMP