Bill Text: TX HR1480 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the unveiling of the African American Legislators Monument in the Texas State Cemetery in March 2020.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-05-14 - Reported enrolled [HR1480 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR1480-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 1480 |
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WHEREAS, March 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the | ||
unveiling of the African American Legislators Monument in the Texas | ||
State Cemetery, providing a fitting opportunity to reflect on this | ||
remarkable monument's impact and the history it represents; and | ||
WHEREAS, In March 2010, a monument in honor of the African | ||
Americans who served in the Texas Legislature between 1868 and 1900 | ||
and in the Constitutional Conventions of 1868-1869 and 1875 was | ||
unveiled on the grounds of the Texas State Cemetery; and | ||
WHEREAS, After the emancipation of slaves in June 1865, Black | ||
Codes were passed by several cities in Texas to restrict the rights | ||
of newly freed African Americans; it took the intervention of | ||
Congress and the U.S. military in 1867 to allow their transition to | ||
freedom to begin in earnest; and | ||
WHEREAS, By the end of the 19th century, 52 African Americans | ||
in Texas had served in 14 legislatures and 2 constitutional | ||
conventions; before discriminatory laws and practices around the | ||
turn of the 20th century succeeded in excluding blacks once again | ||
from political life, these men engaged in the most pressing issues | ||
of the day and worked for the betterment of their communities and | ||
the benefit of all Texans; and | ||
WHEREAS, Among the critical needs these black legislators | ||
addressed were the safeguarding of voting rights for African | ||
Americans, the elimination of widespread violence against blacks, | ||
the opportunity for educational advancement, the protection of | ||
skilled and agricultural workers, the reform of the prison system, | ||
and the defense of the frontier; black legislators also fought to | ||
end segregation in railroad passenger cars and to eliminate the | ||
poll tax; their lasting achievements included the creation of Texas | ||
Agricultural and Mechanical College and Prairie View Normal | ||
Institute; and | ||
WHEREAS, Representing a wide variety of backgrounds, | ||
experiences, and occupations, these dedicated public servants | ||
advocated tirelessly in behalf of civil rights for all Texans, and | ||
the African American Legislators Monument at the Texas State | ||
Cemetery pays fitting tribute to their memory; now, therefore, be | ||
it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby commemorate the 10th anniversary of the | ||
unveiling of the African American Legislators Monument in the Texas | ||
State Cemetery and extend sincere appreciation to all those who | ||
played a part in bringing the project to fruition. | ||
Cole | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 1480 was adopted by the House on May | ||
10, 2019, by a non-record vote. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||