IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 83 
Recognizing the significance of Black History Month. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 23, 2009 
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas (for himself, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. CLAY, 
Mr. TOWNS, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. WATT, Mr. MEEKS of New York, 
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. DAVIS 
of Illinois, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. OLVER, Ms. 
KILPATRICK of Michigan, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland, Mr. 
HINOJOSA, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHN-
SON of Texas, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Mr. RUSH, Mr. RANGEL, 
Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. 
THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. DAVIS of Alabama, 
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Ms. CLARKE, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. 
CARSON of Indiana, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Ms. 
WATERS, and Ms. LEE of California) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Re-
form 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the significance of Black History Month. 
Whereas the first Africans were brought involuntarily to the 
shores of 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 involuntary servitude 
and subsequently faced the injustices of lynch mobs, seg-
regation, and denial of basic, fundamental rights; 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:26 Jan 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR83.IH
HR83
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
•HRES 83 IH 
Whereas despite involuntary servitude, African-Americans 
have made significant contributions to the economic, edu-
cational, political, artistic, literary, religious, scientific, 
and technological advancement of the Americas; 
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 ideals; 
Whereas the greatness of the United States is reflected in the 
historic election of Barack Obama, an American of Afri-
can ancestry, to the Office of the President of the United 
States of America; 
Whereas the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick 
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 His-
tory, 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— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:26 Jan 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR83.IH
HR83
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS
•HRES 83 IH 
(1) recognizes the significance of Black History 
Month as an important time to recognize the con-
tributions of African-Americans in the Nation’s his-
tory, 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 the ethnic and racial diver-
sity of the United States enriches and strengthens 
the Nation. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
00:26 Jan 24, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR83.IH
HR83
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with BILLS