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OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT MAYOR
February 24, 2021
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1 transmit herewith, together with the members of the City Council, a resolution recognizing February as Black History Month.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of the many achievements by African Americans and their central role in the history of the United States; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who, with the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, sponsored a national Negro History Week in 1926, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass; and
WHEREAS, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history"; and
WHEREAS, Black History Month also encompasses National Freedom Day, which is February 1 and celebrates the anniversary of the approval of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States in 1865; and
WHEREAS, Each year, Black History Month has a specific theme, with this year's theme being "The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity"; and
WHEREAS, We celebrate the many black leaders in government, health care, education, law, science, and other fields who serve as examples for all people to follow; and
WHEREAS, Asa result of slavery, segregation, systemic racism, and mass incarceration, the black family has often been fractured, but not broken, as the love within communities has extended the familial bonds to support the family through oppression and other hard times; and
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago's Municipal Code in Section 1-24-010 celebrates the fl...
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