Texas SR 175: In memory of Eva Elizabeth Hall Brown.

Bill Text

89(R) SR 175 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

  

  

  

  

   

 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 175

   

        WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month in 

  

 February 2025 provides an opportunity to recognize the rich 

  

 cultural heritage of African Americans and the significant 

  

 contributions they have made and are continuing to make in the 

  

 Lone Star State; and

  

  

        WHEREAS, An event celebrating Black history was 

  

 established in 1926 as a weeklong observance by Dr. Carter 

  

 G. Woodson, an author and scholar whose parents had been 

  

 enslaved; he sought a means of educating all U.S. citizens about 

  

 African American culture and engendering pride among Black 

  

 Americans; the tribute was expanded to a month in 1976 and was 

  

 officially recognized by President Gerald Ford, who encouraged 

  

 all Americans to join him "in tribute to Black History Month and 

  

 the message of courage and perseverance it brings to all of us"; 

  

 and

  

  

        WHEREAS, People of African descent have a long history in 

  

 Texas; in 1528, a Moor named Estevan accompanied the Spanish 

  

 explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca on a trek across the land that 

  

 would later become the Lone Star State; by the end of the 18th 

  

 century, some 450 individuals of African origin lived in Spanish 

  

 Texas, and in the early 1800s, many African Americans who had 

  

 been enslaved in the American South crossed the Sabine River, 

  

 seeking their freedom and settling in East Texas; and

  

  

        WHEREAS, In the 19th century, before emancipation, African 

  

 Americans played an enormous role in producing the state's 

  

 agricultural bounty and also worked as skilled artisans; and

  

  

        WHEREAS, Freed of their shackles at the end of the Civil 

  

 War, Black citizens applied themselves to new realms of endeavor; 

  

 many moved to urban centers, and in the years that followed, 

  

 provided labor for new industries that were established; African 

  

 Americans also excelled in tasks that ranged from ranching and 

  

 military duty to service as state legislators; moreover, a people 

  

 who just a few short years before had been held in bondage 

  

 enrolled in schools and colleges as they sought a path to a better 

  

 future and a means of coping with the difficult challenges that 

  

 surrounded them; and

  

  

        WHEREAS, African American infantry and cavalry garrisoned 

  

 forts in West Texas during the Indian Wars; known as "Buffalo 

  

 Soldiers," they patrolled the frontier with the assistance of 

  

 Seminole-Negro Indian scouts, built roads, and escorted mail 

  

 carriers; Sergeant Emmanuel Stance, stationed at Fort McKavett, 

  

 was the first African American who fought in the Indian Wars to be 

  

 awarded the Medal of Honor; and

  

  

        WHEREAS, Since the early 1800s, African Americans have 

  

 been involved in the cattle industry; one of the most famous 

  

 Black native Texan cowboys was William Pickett, who became a Wild 

  

 West rodeo performer and who is believed to have originated the 

  

 bulldogging event; and

  

  

        WHEREAS, African Americans have been a significant part of 

  

 the population of Texas for hundreds of years, and the 

  

 celebration of Black History Month acknowledges and promotes the 

  

 immeasurable benefits of living in a truly diverse society; now, 

  

 therefore, be it

  

  

        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th 

  

 Legislature, hereby recognize February 2025 as Black History 

  

 Month and encourage all citizens to learn more about the history 

  

 and accomplishments of African Americans in the Lone Star State.

  

   

 West

  

   

 Alvarado
 Hagenbuch
 Kolkhorst

   

 Bettencourt
 Hall
 Menéndez

   

 Birdwell
 Hancock
 Middleton

   

 Blanco
 Hinojosa of Hidalgo
 Miles

   

 Campbell
 Hinojosa of Nueces
 Nichols

   

 Cook
 Huffman
 Parker

   

 Creighton
 Hughes
 Paxton

   

 Eckhardt
 Johnson
 Perry

   

 Flores
 King
 Sparks

   

 Gutierrez

 Zaffirini

  

   

 Patrick, President of the Sena