In Honor of Black History Month

The following resolution was adopted by the DNC Resolutions Committee at its meeting on February 1, 2007, in conjunction with the meetings of the Democratic National Committee, February 1-3, 2007.

Submitted by:
Donna Brazile, At-Large/DC
Lottie Shackelford, DNC Vice Chair/Arkansas
Mike Honda, DNC Vice Chair/California
Susan W. Turnbull, DNC Vice Chair/Maryland
Yolanda Caraway, At-Large/DC
Hartina Flournoy, At-Large/DC
Renee’ Gill Pratt, Louisiana
Alice Huffman, California
Ben Jeffers, At-Large/Louisiana
Ben Johnson, At-Large/DC
Betty McElderry, Oklahoma
James Metcalfe, Chair, Alaska
Minyon Moore, At-Large,/DC
Christine Pelosi, California
John A. Perez, California
Mirian Saez, At-Large/California
Marva Smalls, At-Large/South Carolina
Virgie Rollins, National Federation of Democratic Women/Michigan
Vernon Watkins, At-Large/DC

Resolution in Honor of Black History Month

WHEREAS, Carter G. Woodson, noted Black scholar, historian, and son of former slaves, founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915, which was later renamed the Association for the Study of African American Life and History; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Woodson initiated Black History Week on February 12, 1926, which was celebrated by Black people in the United States during the 2nd week of February (chosen so as to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln) for many years; and

WHEREAS, in 1976, as part of the nation’s Bicentennial, Black History Week was expanded to make February Black History Month, now celebrated all over North America; and

WHEREAS, Black History month is an opportunity for Democrats across America to pay tribute to the contributions and loyal support of African Americans to the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, in order to increase the participation of African Americans in the political process at all levels, as voters, campaign team members, candidates for public office, and appointees to governmental institutions, the Democratic Party must continue to work with African Americans from across the country, including elected leaders and community leaders to support their continued involvement in the electoral arena; and

WHEREAS, in 2004 and in the recent 2006 mid-term elections, African Americans overwhelmingly voted for and supported Democratic candidates at every level; and

WHEREAS, according to the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, “Black voters were critical in electing four new Democratic U.S. Senators in Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia which helped Democrats regain control of the U.S. Senate”; and

WHEREAS, in the 110th Session of Congress there will be 42 African Americans in the U.S. House of Representatives and one African American in the U.S. Senate; and

WHEREAS, African Americans will hold key positions in the 110th Congress as Majority Whip in the U.S. House of Representatives, Chairmen of the House Ways and Means, Judiciary, Homeland Security, Administration, and Ethics Committees, as well as numerous sub-committees; and

WHEREAS, Deval Patrick, the second elected Black governor in the history of America, is Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and

WHEREAS, David Patterson was recently elected Lt. Governor of New York and Anthony Brown has been elected Lt. Governor of the State of Maryland; and

WHEREAS, African Americans are at the helm of municipalities across the country, where they hold seats in city, county and state legislatures;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party at all levels (national, state, and local) recognize and honor African Americans for their leadership and vision in helping to protect the United States of America, including our brave men and women in the military; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Democratic National Committee shall continue to work with Democratic leaders in the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, Democratic Governors and other state and local officials to expand the participation of all minorities and other historically under-represented groups in the political process.