HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2025-4620
HR 4620
By Representative Donaghy
WHEREAS, Nearly 100 years ago, in 1926, Dr. Carter Woodson advocated that we set aside a special period in February to recognize the history, heritage, and achievements of Black people in the United States; and
WHEREAS, In the bicentennial year of 1976, 50 years after Woodson gave birth to the idea, President Gerald Ford expanded the period from a weeklong observance to the entire month of February, urging all Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history"; and
WHEREAS, Today, in 2025, these types of observances recognizing the contributions and histories of people from a variety of groups and communities are critical to ensure that their histories are no longer obscured, hidden, silenced, or erased; and
WHEREAS, The Black History Month 2025 theme, "African Americans and Labor," reflects on the relationship between Black people's work and their workplaces; and
WHEREAS, This country was built and enriched by hundreds of years of free, forced labor from Black people during slavery; and
WHEREAS, Black people have patriotically fought for this country in every war since its founding, even without full citizenship; and
WHEREAS, Black people often had their work stolen or others have profited from it without credit; and
WHEREAS, Black people's labor, and their allies', was critical to the expansion of the right to vote, access to a quality education, safe housing, and fair wages for all people; and
WHEREAS, The struggle of Black people in this country is one that seeks for all people to be rewarded based on their hard work and merit and ability, rather than judged and held back because of an immutable characteristic; and