| |
|
|
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
|
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, Members of the Texas Geographic Names Committee and |
|
|
the U.S. Board on Geographic Names have issued a report which shows |
|
|
that there are at least 28 geographic features in Texas with |
|
|
racially offensive names; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In 1991, the Texas Legislature passed H.B. 1756, |
|
|
relating to the elimination of certain racially offensive names of |
|
|
geographic features; the act requires the renaming of any |
|
|
geographic feature with a name containing the word "Negro," yet in |
|
|
the 30 years since the law was passed, 17 of the 19 place names |
|
|
detailed in the act remain unchanged; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Changes to place names require the approval of the |
|
|
U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which in 1998 rejected the names |
|
|
proposed by H.B. 1756; however, the names were submitted for |
|
|
reconsideration at a recent meeting of the USBGN and will be |
|
|
considered for validation and acceptance no later than June 2021; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In addition to those currently under |
|
|
reconsideration, the USBGN has identified 11 other place names in |
|
|
Texas containing the slur, in contravention of Section 3 of H.B. |
|
|
1756; there are currently no proposals to change these names, and |
|
|
the board's protocol requires a formal proposal be submitted in |
|
|
order to consider any changes; the board encourages Texas to seek |
|
|
proponents to submit a proposal for each of these names; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The perpetuation of racially offensive language is a |
|
|
stain on the Lone Star State, and it is vital that the names of these |
|
|
geographic features be changed in order to reflect and honor the |
|
|
diversity of the population; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas |
|
|
hereby urge the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to approve requests |
|
|
to change racially offensive place names in accordance with Texas |
|
|
H.B. 1756. |
|
|
|
|
|
* * * * * |