RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago and the entire United States will celebrate and observe African American History Month during February, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has been reminded of this auspicious event by the Honorable Emma Mitts, Alderman of the 37th Ward; and
WHEREAS, African American history Month grew from the efforts of noted historian Carter G. Woodson, the son of former slaves who dedicated his adult life to recording the contributions of African Americans to the history of this country; and
WHEREAS, aware that American society at large disregarded the history of African Americans as a group, and ignored or discounted the contributions of African Americans to the development of the nation, Woodson in 1915 founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, or ASALH); and
WHEREAS, in 1926 Woodson announced Negro History Week in Washington, D.C., intending to promote societal awareness ofthe history of a people within American society and of their contributions to that society; and
WHEREAS, Negro History Week was originally set for a week span that included the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The declaration of the week inspired the establishment of history clubs and the demand from teachers for relevant educational materials; and
WHEREAS, Negro History Week grew, with observances in more and more American cities over the decades; and
WHEREAS, in 1976, as part of the bicentennial celebration of the founding of the United States, President Gerald Ford declared Black History Month and encouraged 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, the name of the observance was changed to African American History Month and each president since 1976 has issued proclamations of African American History month as a way of promoting the study of African American history throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, Chicago has made great contributions to African American history, including Woodson's studies at the University of Chicago; the establishment of independent publications directed toward the African American community; the development of insurance companies serving the African American community; the funding of a museum dedicated to African American history; and the development prolific careers of many African Americans in the literary and fine arts; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate that all Chicagoans explore and deepen their appreciation of the historic contributions of African Americans to our city and our nation; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Mayor and members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, assembled this 21st day of January, 2015, do hereby declare the month of February to be African American History Month in Chicago; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call on all residents of Chicago to observe
African American History Month with appropriate celebrations and programs intended to
increase awareness of and appreciation for the many contributions/^African Americans to the
vitality of Chicago and the nation. / /
Emma Mitts
Alderman, 37th Ward