By Pitts                                               H.R. No. 383
         77R8081 MMS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month in February
 1-2     provides an occasion to recognize the rich cultural heritage of
 1-3     African Americans and the significant contributions that African
 1-4     Americans have made and are making in the State of Texas; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, People of African descent have a long history in
 1-6     this region; in the 1500s a Moor named Estevan accompanied the
 1-7     Spanish explorer Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca on a trek across Texas;
 1-8     by the late 1700s some 450 people of African descent were living in
 1-9     Spanish Texas, and in the early 1800s  many African Americans from
1-10     the American South escaped across the Sabine River to freedom,
1-11     often settling in East Texas, where they followed a variety of
1-12     occupations; and
1-13           WHEREAS, In the 19th century, before emancipation, African
1-14     Americans played an enormous role in producing the state's
1-15     agricultural bounty and also worked as skilled artisans; after the
1-16     Civil War, many moved to urban centers and, in the years to come,
1-17     provided manpower for the new industries that were established
1-18     there; and
1-19           WHEREAS, African American infantry and cavalry garrisoned
1-20     forts in West Texas during the Indian Wars; known as "Buffalo
1-21     Soldiers," they patrolled the frontier with the assistance of
1-22     Seminole-Negro Indian scouts, built roads, and escorted mail
1-23     carriers, along with numerous other duties;  Sergeant Emmanuel
1-24     Stance, stationed at Fort McKavett, was the first African American
 2-1     who fought in the Indian Wars to be awarded the Medal of Honor; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, Since the early 1800s, African Americans have been
 2-3     involved in the cattle industry; one of the most famous black
 2-4     cowboys was William Pickett, who became a Wild West rodeo performer
 2-5     and who is believed to have originated the bulldogging event; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, In the mid-20th century, African Americans in Texas
 2-7     significantly advanced the civil rights movement by filing and
 2-8     winning lawsuits that outlawed the white primary and helped to
 2-9     integrate graduate and professional schools; in more recent years,
2-10     officials such as U.S. Representative Barbara Jordan, Texas Court
2-11     of Criminal Appeals Justice Morris Overstreet, Texas Railroad
2-12     Commission Chairman Michael L. Williams, and others have taken
2-13     their place in the public arena; and
2-14           WHEREAS, Among the most notable of black Texan contributors
2-15     to the arts and humanities have been the musicians Blind Lemon
2-16     Jefferson, Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter, Scott Joplin, and Eddie
2-17     Durham, folklorist J. Mason Brewer, and artist John Biggers;
2-18     prominent athletes include baseball player Willie Wells, boxers
2-19     Jack Johnson and George Foreman, tennis player Zina Garrison,
2-20     volleyball player Flora "Flo" Hyman, and football players Earl
2-21     Campbell, Tony Dorsett, and Ricky Williams; and
2-22           WHEREAS, African Americans have been an integral part of the
2-23     Texas mosaic since colonial times and continue in myriad ways to
2-24     enrich our society and culture; now, therefore, be it
2-25           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-26     Legislature hereby recognize February 2001 as Black History Month
2-27     in Texas and encourage all Texans to learn more about the history
 3-1     and contributions of African Americans in the Lone Star State.