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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month in February |
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2017 provides a welcome opportunity to recognize the rich cultural |
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heritage and significant contributions of African Americans in |
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Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, A weeklong observance focusing on black history was |
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established in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, an author and scholar |
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and the son of former slaves, who sought a means of educating |
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non-black Americans about African American culture and of |
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engendering pride among black Americans; the tribute was expanded |
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to a month in 1976 and was officially recognized by President Gerald |
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Ford, who encouraged all Americans to celebrate "Black History |
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Month and the message of courage and perseverance it brings to all |
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of us"; and |
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WHEREAS, People of African descent have a long history in the |
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Lone Star State; in 1528, less than 10 years after explorers claimed |
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Texas in the name of King Charles I, a Moor named Estevanico |
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accompanied the Spanish explorer Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca on a |
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trek across Texas; by the late 1700s, some 450 people of African |
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descent were living in Spanish Texas, and in the early 1800s, many |
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African Americans from the South escaped across the Sabine River to |
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freedom, often settling in East Texas, where they undertook a |
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variety of occupations; and |
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WHEREAS, In the 19th century, before emancipation, African |
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Americans played an enormous role in producing the state's |
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agricultural bounty and also worked as skilled artisans; after the |
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Civil War, many moved to urban centers and, in the years that |
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followed, provided manpower for new industries that were |
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established; and |
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WHEREAS, African American infantry and cavalry garrisoned |
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forts in West Texas during the Indian Wars; known as "Buffalo |
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Soldiers," they patrolled the frontier with the assistance of black |
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Seminole Indian scouts, built roads, and escorted mail carriers; |
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Sergeant Emmanuel Stance, stationed at Fort McKavett, was the first |
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African American who fought in the Indian Wars to be awarded the |
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Medal of Honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Since the early 1800s, African Americans have been |
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involved in the cattle industry; one of the most famous black Texan |
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cowboys was Bill Pickett, who became a Wild West rodeo performer and |
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who is believed to have originated the bulldogging event; and |
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WHEREAS, In the mid-20th century, African Americans in Texas |
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substantially furthered the civil rights movement by filing and |
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winning lawsuits that outlawed the white primary and that helped to |
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integrate graduate and professional schools; today, influential |
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African American leaders continue to follow in the footsteps of |
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their predecessors, taking their rightful place in the public arena |
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and promoting social justice; and |
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WHEREAS, The contributions of African Americans in the nation |
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at large have not only impacted every facet of life in this country |
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but have had an influence around the globe; among the most notable |
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but perhaps least-known achievements have been advances in science |
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and technology; the long list of those who have distinguished |
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themselves in these fields includes Alexander Miles, who developed |
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the automated elevator door, Garrett Morgan, who invented the gas |
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mask and the traffic signal, Frederick Jones, who developed |
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refrigerated trucks and railroad cars, Dr. Charles Drew, who |
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developed a technique for preserving plasma and who established |
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blood banks across Europe and the Pacific during World War II, |
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saving the lives of countless American soldiers and sailors, and |
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Dr. Patricia E. Bath, who developed a method of eye surgery that |
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has helped many blind people to see; and |
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WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month highlights |
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the countless ways in which African Americans have helped to shape |
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this state and nation and acknowledges the immeasurable benefits of |
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living in a truly diverse society; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate February 2017 as Black History Month |
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and encourage all citizens to learn more about the history and |
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accomplishments of African Americans. |