New York J 554: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2025, as Black Music Month in the State of New York

Bill Text

Bill Search and Legislative Information | New York State Assembly 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 Skip to main content 

 New York State Assembly

 Speaker Carl E. Heastie

 --> 
 --> 

 --> 

• 
 Assembly Members 

• 
 Legislative Info 

• 
 Public Hearings 

• 
 Speaker's Press 

• 
 Assembly Reports 

• 
 Committees & More 

• Bill Search Home
• Laws
• Legislative Calendar
• Public Hearing Schedule
• Assembly Calendars
• Assembly Committee Agenda 

 Javascript must be enabled to properly view this page. 

 - This bill is not active in this session.

 Bill No.: 

• Summary 
• Actions 
• Committee&nbspVotes 
• Floor&nbspVotes 
• Memo 
• Text 
• LFIN 
• Chamber&nbspVideo/Transcript 
J00554 Summary:

BILL NOJ00554 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

&nbsp

SPONSORBAILEY

&nbsp

COSPNSRADDABBO, ASHBY, BASKIN, BORRELLO, BRISPORT, BROUK, BYNOE, CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK, CHAN, CLEARE,
 COMRIE, COONEY, FAHY, FERNANDEZ, GALLIVAN, GIANARIS, GONZALEZ, GOUNARDES, GRIFFO, HARCKHAM,
 HELMING, HINCHEY, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, JACKSON, KAVANAGH, KRUEGER, LANZA, LIU, MARTINEZ, MARTINS,
 MATTERA, MAY, MAYER, MURRAY, MYRIE, OBERACKER, O'MARA, ORTT, PALUMBO, PARKER, PERSAUD, RAMOS,
 RHOADS, RIVERA, ROLISON, RYAN C, RYAN S, SALAZAR, SANDERS, SCARCELLA-SPANTON, SEPULVEDA, SERRANO,
 SKOUFIS, STAVISKY, STEC, STEWART-COUSINS, SUTTON, TEDISCO, WALCZYK, WEBB, WEBER, WEIK

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

&nbsp

Go to top J00554 Actions:

BILL NOJ00554 

&nbsp

03/21/2025REFERRED TO FINANCE

03/25/2025REPORTED TO CALENDAR FOR CONSIDERATION

03/25/2025ADOPTED

Go to topJ00554 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topJ00554 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topJ00554 Text:

Assembly Resolution No. 722

BY: M. of A. Jackson

 MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
 June 2025, as Black Music Month in the State of New
 York

 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those who seek to preserve and celebrate the musical
heritage of our State and Nation; and

 WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2025, as Black Music
Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of
National African American Music Appreciation Month; and

 WHEREAS, African American Music Appreciation Month is an annual
celebration of African American music in the United States, commemorated
with special performances and multi-day festivals in musical genres
ranging from soul to jazz to gospel to hip-hop throughout the nation;
and

 WHEREAS, Observation of Black Music Month was initiated on June 7,
1979, by President Jimmy Carter, who decreed that June would be the
month of Black music; since then, American presidents have continued the
practice and, for each year of his term, former President Barack Obama
announced the observance under a new title, African American Music
Appreciation Month; and

 WHEREAS, America's diverse musical heritage is a reflection of the
creativity and optimism of our Nation; during Black Music Month, we
celebrate the breathtaking talents and creativity of African-American
vocalists, instrumentalists, and composers whose achievements have
shaped our national culture and enriched our communities; and

 WHEREAS, For the entire span of our Nation's history, African
Americans have created music that communicates across racial and social
boundaries, giving voice to the full range of human experience; and

 WHEREAS, During African Americans' involuntary servitude, music
often served as a means of expressing the inexpressible; when facing the
cruelty of slavery and injustice, spirituals brought a sense of comfort;
and

 WHEREAS, These timeless declarations of hope and faith evolved into
the more modern genres of gospel, blues, ragtime, and jazz, expressed in
the musical genius of Scott Joplin, Marian Anderson, Eubie Blake, and
Mahalia Jackson; during the Civil Rights era, African American musicians
such as Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters, and Ruth Brown conveyed the
struggles of their communities while bringing people of all backgrounds
together; today, this music continues to inspire America's citizens and
advance its creative spirit; and

 WHEREAS, Throughout the course of American history, Black musicians
have used their great talents to share the richness of the African

American experience and to develop a uniquely American style of music
enjoyed throughout the world; in June 2025, we honor the pioneers of
African American music along with today's artists who continue their
legacy; and

 WHEREAS, From Ella Fitzgerald making history as the first Black
woman to win a Grammy in 1958, to "Fight For You," the Academy Award
winning best original song in the movie "Judas and The Black Messiah" in
2021, the historic success of Black artists continues to leave its mark
in communities, and we are reminded every day that Black L