Pennsylvania HR 401: A Resolution recognizing the month of February 2026 as "Black History Month" in Pennsylvania and celebrating a century of immeasurable contributions, resilience and sacrifices of African Americans in helping to shape our Commonwealth and nation.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2798
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 401
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY N. NELSON, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, SANCHEZ,
PASHINSKI, PROBST, SCHLOSSBERG, SHUSTERMAN, VENKAT, PIELLI,
GUZMAN, FREEMAN, BRENNAN, RIVERA AND VITALI, JANUARY 23, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, RECREATION AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, JANUARY 26, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of February 2026 as "Black History Month"
in Pennsylvania and celebrating a century of immeasurable
contributions, resilience and sacrifices of African Americans
in helping to shape our Commonwealth and nation.
WHEREAS, The contributions of African-American citizens as
scientists, inventors, legislators, farmers, educators,
explorers and countless other professions have positively
impacted every sphere of influence within this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, In 1915, in response to the dearth of information
that existed in the public domain regarding the feats and
accomplishments of African Americans, Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson,
an African-American historian, founded the Association for the
Study of Negro Life and History, which is now known as the
Association for the Study of African American Life and History
(ASALH); and
WHEREAS, In an effort to further build upon the mission and
scope of the ASALH, on February 7, 1926, Dr. Woodson designated
the second week of February as "Negro History Week," which was
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chosen for the initial weeklong celebration to honor the birth
month of President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick
Douglass; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Woodson, often referred to as the "Father of
Black History," dedicated his life to the field of African-
American history and encouraged the coordinated teaching and
study of the history of African Americans in our nation's
schools; and
WHEREAS, In 1928, ASALH established its first annual theme
for what was then known as "Negro History Week," which was
"Civilization: A World Achievement"; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of several decades following the
inception of "Negro History Week," many local municipalities,
colleges and universities across the country began celebrating
the observance in an augmented form as "Black History Month";
and
WHEREAS, In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized
and included "Black History Month" as part of the United States
Bicentennial, urging Americans to "seize the opportunity to
honor the too often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans
in every area of human endeavor throughout our history"; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus has always
endeavored to vigorously advocate for the needs of all people of
color in this Commonwealth by acting as a unified voice
concerning the issues that most acutely impact their daily
lives; and
WHEREAS, This year marks the 100th anniversary of "Black
History Month"; and
WHEREAS, This year's "Black History Month" theme, as
established and adopted by ASALH, is "A Century of Black History
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Commemorations," acknowledging the profound role that work of
all kinds, free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, vocational
and voluntary, has played in the experiences of Black people;
and
WHEREAS, The labor movement and civil rights movement have
always been intertwined in this nation and this Commonwealth;
and
WHEREAS, Due to the work of Black labor activists in
Philadelphia, the United States President announced The
Philadelphia Plan in 1967 to increase diversity within the
building trades; and
WHEREAS, Today, Black labor leaders and policymakers in
Pennsylvania continue to improve union participation in their
communities through pre-apprenticeship programs and public
awareness campaigns in schools; and
WHEREAS, "Black History Month" is an opportunity for all
citizens to commemorate the historical hardships and
achievements of African Americans, laud their invaluable
contributions to both our domestic and global community and
acknowledge the sacrifices that African Americans have made on
behalf and in defense of our great nation; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of February 2026 as "Black History Month" in Pennsylvania
and celebrate a century of immeasurable contributions,
resilience and sacrifices of African Americans in helping to
shape our Commonwealth and nation.
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