H. Res. 1046 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

February 23, 2010. 

Whereas the first Africans were brought involuntarily to the 

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

Whereas these Africans in America and their descendants are 

now known as African-Americans; 

Whereas African-Americans suffered enslavement and subsequently faced the injustices of lynch mobs, segregation, 

and denial of basic, fundamental rights; 

Whereas despite slavery, African-Americans in all walks of 

life have made significant contributions throughout the 

history of the United States, including through the— 

(1) writings of Booker T. Washington, Phyllis 

Wheatley, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Ralph Ellison, 

Zora Neale Hurston, and Alex Haley; 

(2) music of Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday, John 

Coltrane, Bessie Smith, and Duke Ellington; 

(3) resolve of athletes such as Jackie Robinson, Althea Gibson, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, and Muhammad Ali; 

(4) scientific advancements of George Washington 

Carver, Charles Drew, Benjamin Banneker, and Mae 

Jemison; 
2 

•HRES 1046 EH 

(5) vision of leaders such as Frederick Douglass, 

Mary McLeod Bethune, Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King, and Shirley Chisholm; and 

(6) bravery of those who stood on the front lines in 

the battle against oppression, such as Sojourner Truth, 

Fannie Lou Hammer, and Rosa Parks; 

Whereas in the face of injustices, United States citizens of 

good will and of all races distinguished themselves with 

their commitment to the noble ideals upon which the 

United States was founded and courageously fought for 

the rights and freedom of African-Americans; 

Whereas Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived and died to make 

real these noble ideas; 

Whereas Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States, making him the first AfricanAmerican chief executive and breaking one of the last racial barrier in politics in this country; 

Whereas the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick 

Douglass inspired the creation of Negro History Week, 

the precursor to Black History Month; 

Whereas Negro History Week represented the culmination of 

Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s efforts to enhance knowledge of 

Black history started through the Journal of Negro History, published by Woodson’s Association for the Study 

of African-American Life and History; 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 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
3 

•HRES 1046 EH 

(1) recognizes the significance of Black History 

Month as an important time to recognize the contributions of African-Americans in the Nation’s history, and 

encourages the continued celebration of this month to 

provide an opportunity for all peoples of the United 

States to learn more about the past and to better understand the experiences that have shaped the Nation; and 

(2) recognizes that ethnic and racial diversity of the 

United States enriches and strengthens the Nation. 

Attest: 

Clerk.