IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 198 

Recognizing the significance of Black History Month. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 27, 2007 

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas (for himself, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. LEE, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, 

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. CUMMINGS, 

Mr. DAVIS of Alabama, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. MEEKS of New 

York, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of 

Florida, Ms. CARSON, Ms. CLARKE, Mr. CLAY, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. 

PAYNE, Mr. RANGEL, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Ms. WATERS, Mr. RUSH, Mr. 

SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Ms. 

NORTON, Ms. WATSON, Mr. WYNN, Mr. TOWNS, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, 

Mr. WATT, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. 

BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. MEEK of Florida, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. 

MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. 

ORTIZ, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. HONDA, Mrs. 

CAPPS, Mr. CROWLEY, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. CAPUANO, Ms. SOLIS, Ms. 

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. 

SERRANO, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. WU, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. 

GEORGE MILLER of California, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ

of California, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. POE, Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, 

and Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the significance of Black History Month. 

Whereas the first African Americans were brought forcibly to 

the shores of America as early as the 17th century; 


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•HRES 198 IH 

Whereas African Americans were enslaved in the United 

States and subsequently faced the injustices of lynch 

mobs, segregation, and denial of basic, fundamental 

rights; 

Whereas despite this enslavement, early Black Americans 

made significant contributions to the economic, educational, political, artistic, literary, religious, scientific, 

and technological advancement of the United States; 

Whereas in the face of these injustices, United States citizens 

of all races distinguished themselves in their commitment 

to ideals of which the United States was founded and 

fought for the rights and freedom of African Americans; 

Whereas the United States was conceived, as stated in the 

Declaration of Independence, as a new country dedicated 

to the proposition that ‘‘all Men are created equal, that 

they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the 

Pursuit of Happiness’’; 

Whereas since its founding, the United States has been an 

imperfect work in making progress towards those noble 

goals; 

Whereas the history of the United States is the story of a 

people regularly affirming high ideals, striving to reach 

them but often failing, and then struggling to come to 

terms with the disappointment of that failure before committing themselves to trying again; and 

Whereas the month of February is officially celebrated as 

Black History Month, which dates back to 1926, when 

Dr. Carter G. Woodson set aside a special period of time 

in February to recognize the heritage and achievement of 

Black Americans: Now, therefore, be it 


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•HRES 198 IH 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the significance of Black History 

3 Month as an important time to recognize the con4 tributions of Black Americans in the Nation’s his5 tory, and encourages the continued celebration of 

6 this month to provide an opportunity for all people 

7 of the United States to learn more about the past 

8 and to better understand the experiences that have 

9 shaped the Nation; and 

10 (2) affirms that— 

11 (A) the contributions of Black Americans 

12 are a significant part of the history, progress, 

13 and heritage of the United States; and 

14 (B) the ethnic and racial diversity of the 

15 United States enriches and strengthens the Na16 tion. 

Æ 


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