PRINTER'S NO. 18
No. 17 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY THOMAS, WASHINGTON, PRESTON, MYERS, YOUNGBLOOD,
WATERS, ROEBUCK, JAMES, J. EVANS, CRUZ, BISHOP, BAKER,
BALDWIN, BARD, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BELFANTI, BUNT,
CAPPELLI, CAWLEY, CLYMER, COLEMAN, CORRIGAN, COY, CRAHALLA,
CREIGHTON, CURRY, DALEY, DeLUCA, DeWEESE, DONATUCCI, EACHUS,
FAIRCHILD, FEESE, FLEAGLE, FORCIER, GEIST, GILLESPIE,
GOODMAN, HARHAI, HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HERSHEY, HESS,
HUTCHINSON, KIRKLAND, LAUGHLIN, LEACH, LEDERER, LEWIS,
MANDERINO, MANN, MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN, McILHATTAN, McNAUGHTON,
MELIO, MUNDY, READSHAW, ROBERTS, ROSS, RUBLEY, SANTONI,
SATHER, SAYLOR, SCHRODER, SHANER, B. SMITH, SOLOBAY, STABACK,
STURLA, TANGRETTI, E. Z. TAYLOR, TIGUE, TRAVAGLIO, TRUE,
WATSON AND WOJNAROSKI, JANUARY 29, 2003
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JANUARY 29, 2003
A RESOLUTION
1 Declaring February 2003 as "Black History Month" in
2 Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Our Commonwealth and our country are filled with
4 citizens of many backgrounds and interests who have influenced
5 us through their devotion to the arts, the sciences, music,
6 education, business, politics and other worthy disciplines; and
7 WHEREAS, As we endeavor to promote diversity in our
8 communities, we must provide the opportunity to learn and
9 understand the heritage of all Americans; and
10 WHEREAS, Our Commonwealth and our entire nation are rapidly
11 becoming multiethnic, multiracial and multicultural,
12 necessitating a greater understanding of the traditions and
1 cultures of individual groups in order to maintain peace and
2 harmony in our society; and
3 WHEREAS, African Americans have, throughout our country's
4 history, made it possible for us to move closer to the ideals on
5 which America was founded: that all people are created equal and
6 it shall be the duty of our country to respect and protect their
7 inalienable rights; and
8 WHEREAS, During "Black History Month," we will observe the
9 work of such motivating and enlightening individuals as Phillis
10 Wheatley, Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells,
11 W.E.B. Du Bois, Martin Luther King, Jr., Booker T. Washington
12 and all who have worked to advance civil rights for every
13 individual in America and around the world; and
14 WHEREAS, Several African American leaders in the Philadelphia
15 area died last year and among them are: Father Paul Washington,
16 Pastor Emeritus, Church of the Advocate and founder of Advocate
17 Community Development Corp.; Onah Weldon, a longtime labor
18 leader in the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and president
19 of Political Congress of Black Women of the Philadelphia
20 Chapter; Sarah Potter-Smith, an Associate Minister of Mother
21 Zoar United Methodist Church and graduate of Temple University
22 at the age of 89 years; and Grover Washington, a jazz musician;
23 and
24 WHEREAS, African Americans have provided our nation a myriad
25 number of accomplishments and a steadfastness in the face of
26 practically insurmountable odds that have enhanced the cultural
27 fabric of our country; and
28 WHEREAS, The cowardly acts of racism, racial hatred and
29 intolerance could be lessened with an increased awareness of the
30 important role that African Americans have played throughout the
20030H0017R0018 - 2 -
1 history of our Commonwealth and our entire nation; therefore be
2 it
3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives declare February
4 2003 as "Black History Month" in Pennsylvania.
A9L82DMS/20030H0017R0018 - 3 -