HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2023-4619

HR 4619

ByRepresentative Hackney

WHEREAS, During the month of February each year, the great state of Washington comes together to celebrate Black Americans' contributions to our history, culture, and nation; and

WHEREAS, Black history is American history. Black culture is American culture; and

WHEREAS, We come together as a state to acknowledge the resilience of Black communities, and honor those who have endured racial discrimination and injustice; and

WHEREAS, Much of the history of Black Americans can be viewed through the lens of the long, hard struggle to reconcile the reality of slavery, Jim Crow, and segregation with the words and ideals written in the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights; and

WHEREAS, In the face of persistent and entrenched injustice and inequality, countless men and women of good will came together to fight to improve our imperfect union and bring it closer to the ideals of equality and opportunity for all; and

WHEREAS, Black Americans' desire to succeed and contribute, and the love for their country, has left a positive impact on American culture and society in areas of education, medicine, industry, the military, religion, social sciences, philosophy, agriculture, engineering, and the arts; and

WHEREAS, This Black History Month, and every month, is a time to learn about those who came before us, and keep moving towards a better, more just future;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives celebrate Black History Month and recognize the legacy and innumerable contributions of Black Americans to our communities, the state of Washington, and the United States of America, not only in February but throughout the whole year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage the celebration of Black History Month in our schools and universities, and in our communities and neighborhoods, to foster a better understanding of that history and its significance here in Washington and throughout this nation.