SPONSOR:	Rep. Potter & Sen. Henry
	Reps. Baumbach, Bolden, Heffernan, Jaques, J. Johnson, K. Williams, Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 148th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8

RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2015 AS "AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH" AND REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR ISSUE A PROCLAMATION FOR THE OCCASION.

WHEREAS, members of the 148^th General Assembly of the State of Delaware wish to honor the heritage of African Americans and acknowledge their many contributions to our State and Nation; and

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

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

WHEREAS, February holds great significance for the many milestones it contains, including: February 23, 1868, when the civil rights leader and co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, W.E.B. DuBois, was born; February 3, 1870, when the 15^th Amendment granting black men the right to vote passed; and February 25, 1870, when 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 148^th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that February 2015 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 shall be delivered to the Governor of the State of Delaware.

SYNOPSIS

This House Concurrent Resolution recognizes February 2015 as "African American History Month." It also requests that the Governor issue a proclamation declaring the same and encouraging the State agencies and all Delawareans to observe the occasion with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.