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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month in February |
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2017 provides a welcome opportunity to recognize the rich cultural |
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heritage of African Americans and the significant contributions |
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they have made and are making to the Lone Star State and to the world |
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at large; and |
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WHEREAS, A weeklong observance focusing on black history was |
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established in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the Harvard-trained |
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historian and son of former slaves who founded the Association for |
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the Study of Negro Life and History; the first Negro History Week, |
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held in the week that encompassed both Abraham Lincoln and |
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Frederick Douglass's birthdays, was met with a warm reception |
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throughout the country, and February was officially recognized as |
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Black History Month by the U.S. government in 1976 and by the State |
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of Texas in 1983; and |
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WHEREAS, The Lone Star State has greatly benefited from the |
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leadership and vision of numerous African American lawmakers, |
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beginning with those elected during the Reconstruction Era after |
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African American men were granted the right to vote with the |
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ratification of the 15th Amendment; though discriminatory voting |
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laws restricted the opportunity for representation in the Texas |
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Legislature between 1899 and 1967, the passage of the Voting Rights |
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Act of 1965 helped return African Americans to legislative offices; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The list of African Americans who have served in the |
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Texas Legislature includes David Abner Sr., Alma Allen, Richard |
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Allen, Edward Anderson, Alexander Asberry, Houston A. P. Bassett, |
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Thomas Beck, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Fred Blair, Edward Brown, D. W. |
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Burley, Walter Moses Burton, Stefani Carter, Reby Cary, Lanell |
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Cofer, Garnet Coleman, Nicole Collier, Giles Cotton, Yvonne Davis, |
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Wilhelmina Delco, Joe Deshotel, Dawnna Dukes, J. Goldsteen Dupree, |
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Harold V. Dutton Jr., Leonard Edward Briscoe, Al Edwards, Rodney |
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Ellis, Larry Q. Evans, Robert J. Evans, Jacob E. Freeman, Matthew |
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Gaines, Harriel G. Geiger, Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, Helen Giddings, |
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Ron D. Givens, Curtis M. Graves, Bedford A. Guy, Anthony Hall, |
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Nathan H. Haller, Jeremiah J. Hamilton, Terri Hodge, William H. |
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Holland, Zan W. Holmes Jr., Samuel Hudson III, Eric Johnson, Jarvis |
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Johnson, Jesse Jones, Karyne Jones Conley, Ruth Jones McClendon, |
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Barbara Jordan, Mitchell Kendall, Robert A. Kerr, Alex F. Kinneson, |
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Jerald H. Larry, El Franco Lee, George "Mickey" Leland, Doc C. |
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Lewis, Glen Lewis, Joseph E. Lockridge, Barbara Mallory Caraway, |
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Elias Mayes, David Medlock, Borris Miles, John Mitchell, Henry |
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Moore, Robert J. Moore, Sheppard Mullens, Jesse Oliver, Edward |
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Patton, Henry Phelps, Albert Price, Paul Ragsdale, Ron Reynolds, |
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Walter E. Ripton, Meshack R. Roberts, Toni Rose, George T. Ruby, |
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Alonzo Sledge, Robert Lloyd Smith, Clay Smothers, Henry Sneed, |
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James H. Stewart, Garlington Jerome "G. J." Sutton, Lou Nelle |
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Sutton, Shawn Thierry, Garfield Thompson, Laura Thompson, |
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Senfronia Thompson, Scott Turner, Sylvester Turner, Marc Veasey, |
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Craig A. Washington, James H. Washington, Bobby Webber, Royce West, |
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James White, Allen W. Wilder, Benjamin Franklin Williams, Richard |
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Williams, Ron Wilson, and George W. Wyatt; and |
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WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month highlights |
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the myriad ways in which African Americans have helped shape this |
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nation over the course of four centuries; it also serves as a |
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reminder that the immeasurable benefits of living in a truly |
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diverse society, with equal treatment for all, should motivate our |
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words and our actions every month of every year; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th |
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Legislature hereby commemorate February 2017 as Black History Month |
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and encourage all citizens to learn more about the history and |
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accomplishments of African Americans. |