[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 39 (Monday, October 1, 2001)]
[Pages 1389-1390]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7472--National Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
Week, 2001

September 28, 2001

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    For more than a century, our Nation's Historically Black Colleges 
and Universities (HBCUs) have played a vital role in providing 
opportunities for excellence in higher education to millions of African 
American students.
    Throughout their history, these institutions of higher learning 
persevered in the face of many obstacles, offering university degrees to 
African Americans at a time when most schools refused them admission. 
Some of our HBCUs began when society was deeply segregated; and some 
were founded when the Nation still permitted the scourge of slavery. The 
Civil War eradicated slavery in America; and the United States Supreme 
Court ended the racial segregation of our schools. Notwithstanding the 
removal of these blights from the American scene, HBCUs have remained 
committed to providing African American students with extraordinary 
educational opportunities. The HBCUs' consistent tradition of offering 
high-quality, academic programs has enabled their students and graduates 
to prosper.
    The success of our HBCUs should be a source of great pride for all 
Americans. Almost 300,000 African Americans currently are enrolled in 
HBCUs, and among their graduates are Members of Congress, hundreds of 
elected officials, military officers, physicians, teachers, attorneys, 
judges, ambassadors, and business executives.
    Committed to excellence as well as to opportunity, our HBCUs reflect 
the determination and spirit that are essential to achieving my 
Administration's goal of educational success at every level. All 
Americans should have opportunities to pursue the American dream. 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities play an essential role in 
providing access to that dream for African Americans, and I salute them 
for their continuing commitment to serving African American students.

[[Page 1390]]

    Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of 
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and 
laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 24 through 
September 30, 2001, as National Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities Week. I call upon the people of the United States, 
including government officials, educators, and administrators, to 
observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities, 
thereby demonstrating our appreciation of and support for these 
important educational institutions.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth 
day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
sixth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., October 1, 
2001]

Note: This proclamation will be published in the Federal Register on 
October 2.