    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    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. Dur-
    ing 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

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    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 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.
    DONALD J. TRUMP