PRINTER'S NO. 2424
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
472
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS, FRANKEL, SCHLOSSBERG, SAPPEY, CEPHAS,
HILL-EVANS, HANBIDGE, HENNESSEY, KENYATTA, KORTZ, DiGIROLAMO,
KINSEY, HARRIS, BIZZARRO, JOHNSON-HARRELL, YOUNGBLOOD,
CALTAGIRONE, READSHAW, CIRESI, NEILSON, FREEMAN, McCLINTON,
KIM AND SCHWEYER, SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the week of September 8 through 14, 2019, as
"Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Historically, African-American individuals took
great risks and sacrificed much to establish a safe learning
environment to achieve significant advancements across the
United States; and
WHEREAS, Since the early 1800s, historically black colleges
and universities (HBCUs) were established to serve the
educational needs of African Americans; and
WHEREAS, HBCUs created supportive and empowering educational
environments for young people from diverse backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, Today, there are more than 100 HBCUs in the United
States, including public and private institutions and
professional schools of law and medicine; and
WHEREAS, At a time when many schools barred their doors to
African Americans, HBCUs offered the best, and often the only,
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opportunity for a higher education; and
WHEREAS, HBCUs have continued to be a vital resource in the
nation's educational system and have made countless
accomplishments to the advancement of their students and the
nation at large; and
WHEREAS, For generations, spanning more than 180 years, HBCUs
have contributed to the growth of African-American individuals
in the areas of academia, technology, business, law and
government; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is home to two HBCUs, Cheyney
University of Pennsylvania and Lincoln University; and
WHEREAS, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, founded by
Richard Humphreys in 1837, is the oldest of the HBCUs in the
country; and
WHEREAS, Lincoln University was founded in 1854 by John
Miller Dickey and his wife, Sarah Emlen Cresson; and
WHEREAS, These institutions have a mission to uphold their
tradition of academic excellence as they strive to maintain
their commitment to provide an education for students of diverse
backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, "Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week"
is a source of accomplishment and great pride for the African-
American community as well as the entire nation; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
week of September 8 through 14, 2019, as "Historically Black
Colleges and Universities Week" in Pennsylvania.
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