Bill Text: IN HCR0041 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Celebrating Black History Month.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-29 - Resolution withdrawn [HCR0041 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2012-HCR0041-Introduced.html
RESOLUTION No. ________
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION celebrating Black History Month.
_______________________, read first time and referred to Committee on
RESOLUTION
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION celebrating Black History
Month.
Whereas, Black history has been celebrated by Americans
each year since 1926, first as Negro History Week and later
as Black History Month;
Whereas, Blacks have been in America since colonial
times, but it was not until the 20th century that they were
represented in history books;
Whereas, The celebration of Black History Month and the
study of black history came into being through the efforts of
Dr. Carter G. Woodson;
Whereas, Dr. Woodson's parents were former slaves, and
he spent his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines;
Whereas, Dr. Woodson enrolled in high school at age 20,
graduated within two years, and went on to earn a Ph.D.
from Harvard University;
Whereas, Dr. Woodson was disturbed to find that history
books largely ignored the black American population and
mentioned blacks only in ways that reflected the inferior
social position they were assigned at the time;
Whereas, Dr. Woodson began the task of writing black
Americans into the nation's history;
Whereas, Through the efforts of Dr. Woodson, several organizations were established as a way to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history, including the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, founded in 1915 (now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History), the Journal of Negro History (now known as the Journal of African American History), and, in 1926, the establishment of Negro History Week;
Whereas, Dr. Woodson chose the second week of February
for Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of
two men who greatly influenced the black American
population: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln;
Whereas, Black History Month, celebrated in February,
acknowledges the achievements of blacks in the military,
arts, civil rights, education, entertainment, history, law,
literature, medicine, music, politics, science, sports, and
other areas;
Whereas, The goal of Black History Month is to bridge the
gap created by American history's failure to accurately
acknowledge, portray, and record the contributions and
inventions of blacks; and
Whereas, Black Americans reflect a legacy of courage and
dedication that has helped to guide our nation's success and
prosperity: Therefore,
SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly acknowledges the
many contributions and accomplishments of black Americans
throughout the history of the United States and Indiana.