TITLE: Recognizing February 2019 as Black History Month.

SUMMARY: Recognizing February 2019 as Black History Month.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Black History Month is being celebrated in February 2019 in recognition of the rich cultural heritage and significant achievements of African Americans; and WHEREAS, The observance was first conceived by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-educated scholar and the son of former slaves, who saw a need to promote the research and study of African American history at a time when it was overlooked by mainstream historians; in 1926, Dr. Woodson chose the second week of February as Negro History Week, due to the fact that it included the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two men of great influence to black Americans; in 1976, President Gerald R. Ford expanded and formalized the celebration to include the entire month of February and urged citizens to use it as an opportunity "to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history"; and WHEREAS, The country has continued to work toward gaining greater understanding of the enormity of African American contributions in all realms; in September 2016, Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States, helped to inaugurate the National Museum of African American History and Culture, noting the centrality of the African American experience to the American story; at the opening ceremony, former president George W. Bush, who signed the 2003 bill authorizing construction of the building, affirmed the study of African American history as a demonstration of our commitment to a fuller, more comprehensive telling of the nation's story; and WHEREAS, While the journey of African Americans toward freedom, equality, and justice has been long and difficult, the trajectory of that path continues to inspire hope of a more inclusive and ever-brighter future; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 2019 as Black History Month and encourage all Texans to take advantage of opportunities for learning, reflection, and celebration. Reynolds Bonnen of Brazoria Guerra Oliverson Allen Guillen Ortega Allison Gutierrez Pacheco Anchia Harless Paddie Anderson Harris Parker Ashby Hefner Patterson Bailes Hernandez Paul Beckley Herrero Perez Bell of Kaufman Hinojosa Phelan Bell of Montgomery Holland Price Bernal Howard Ramos Biedermann Huberty Raney Blanco Hunter Raymond Bohac Israel Reynolds Bonnen of Galveston E. Johnson of Dallas Rodriguez Bowers J. Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Buckley Johnson of Harris Rose Bucy Kacal Rosenthal Burns King of Hemphill Sanford Burrows King of Parker Schaefer Button King of Uvalde Shaheen Cain Klick Sheffield Calanni Krause Sherman, Sr. Canales Kuempel Shine Capriglione Lambert Smith Clardy Landgraf Smithee Cole Lang Springer Coleman Larson Stephenson Collier Leach Stickland Cortez Leman Stucky Craddick Longoria Swanson Cyrier Lozano Talarico Darby Lucio III Thierry Davis of Dallas Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Dean Metcalf Tinderholt Deshotel Meyer Toth Dominguez Meza Turner of Dallas Dutton Middleton Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miller VanDeaver Fierro Minjarez Vo Flynn Moody Walle Frank Morrison White Frullo Mu oz, Jr. Wilson Geren Murphy Wray Gervin-Hawkins Murr Wu Goldman Neave Zedler Gonz lez of Dallas Nev rez Zerwas Gonz lez of El Paso Noble Zwiener Goodwin Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 155 was adopted by the House on February 26, 2019, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House