Delaware-2013-HCR2-Draft

SPONSOR:	Rep. Blakey & Rep. Potter & Sen. Henry & Sen. Bushweller ;
	Reps. D. Short, Hudson, Briggs King, Dukes, Gray, Kenton, Miro, Peterman, Outten, Ramone, Smyk, Spiegelman, Wilson, Atkins, Barbieri, Baumbach, Bennett, Bolden, Heffernan, Jaques, J. Johnson, Q. Johnson, Keeley, Kowalko, Osienski, Scott, M. Smith, Viola, K. Williams; Sens. Cloutier, Hall-Long, Hocker, Lavelle, Lopez, Peterson, Simpson, Townsend

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

147th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2

PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2013 AS AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH AND REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR ISSUE A PROCLAMATION FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.

WHEREAS, members of the 147^th General Assembly of the State of Delaware honor the heritage of African Americans and acknowledge their many contributions to our Nation; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week in February, 1926, choosing the month that marks the birthdays of two important men who greatly impacted the African American population, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass; and

WHEREAS, in the year 1976, the observance was expanded to African American History Month; and

WHEREAS, February holds great significance for the many milestones it contains; on February 23^rd, 1868, the civil rights leader and co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, W.E.B. DuBois, was born; on February 3^rd, 1870, the 15^th Amendment granting black men the right to vote was passed; on February 25^th, 1870, the first African American U.S. Senator, Hiram R. Revels, took his oath of office; and

WHEREAS, all of these events and historic contributions by such groups and individuals as the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, the late Littleton P. Mitchell and the late Delaware Senator Herman Holloway, blazed a trail for full freedom, equality, opportunity, and participation for all citizens in Delaware and in these United States of America.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 147^th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that February, 2013 is designated as African American History Month and that the Governor is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon all State agencies and the people of the State of Delaware to observe the month of February with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that will emphasize the contributions of African Americans to the development and prosperity of this great Nation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitably prepared copy of this resolution be delivered to the Governor of the State of Delaware.

SYNOPSIS

This concurrent resolution proclaims the month of February, 2013 as African American History Month and requests the Governor issue a proclamation calling upon all State agencies and the people of the State of Delaware to observe the month of February with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that will emphasize the history and contributions of African Americans.