[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 25 (Friday, February 6, 2004)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 5903-5904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2790]



[[Page 5901]]

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Part III





The President





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Proclamation 7756--National African American History Month, 2004


                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 25 / Friday, February 6, 2004 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 5903]]

                Proclamation 7756 of February 3, 2004

                
National African American History Month, 2004

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                During National African American History Month, we 
                honor the heritage and accomplishments of African 
                Americans and recognize their extraordinary 
                contributions to the United States.

                African Americans have upheld the ideals of America, 
                defended our homeland, and enriched American culture 
                and society. Brave leaders such as Sojourner Truth, 
                Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington, Martin Luther 
                King, Jr., and Leon Sullivan caused America to examine 
                its heart and to respect the dignity and equality of 
                all people, regardless of race. Today, African 
                Americans are leaders at the highest levels of the 
                military, business, education, law, government, the 
                arts, sports, and religion.

                To help share the stories of the millions of African 
                Americans who have strengthened our country, I recently 
                signed legislation establishing the National Museum of 
                African American History and Culture as a part of the 
                Smithsonian Institution. This museum will commemorate 
                the triumphs of African Americans--their determination 
                in overcoming the evil of slavery and discrimination 
                and their many achievements and contributions to our 
                Nation.

                This year's National African American History Month 
                celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's 
                1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education. In that 
                landmark decision, the Supreme Court declared an end to 
                the shameful and unconstitutional practice of legal 
                segregation in schools, ruling unanimously that the 
                Constitution requires all Americans to be treated 
                equally without regard to the color of their skin. The 
                Brown decision transformed America and fulfilled the 
                principles of our Constitution. This year, we remember 
                the brave schoolchildren and parents who challenged 
                segregation. We recognize the legal and moral advocates 
                who paved the way for this decision, including Thurgood 
                Marshall, the heroic lawyer who represented Linda Brown 
                and fought for her rights and the rights of all African 
                Americans. We remember the nine justices of the Supreme 
                Court who helped America begin to make equal justice 
                under law a reality for African Americans. Nearly 50 
                years after Brown, we are grateful for the progress 
                America has made, but we also recognize that there is 
                still work to be done to ensure that our country lives 
                up to the founding principle that all of God's children 
                are created equal.

                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 February 2004 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 and activities that highlight and 
                honor the contributions African Americans have made to 
                our Nation.

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                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                third day of February, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand four, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 04-2790
Filed 2-5-04; 10:58 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P