RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF FEBRUARY 6, 2025
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RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing February as Black History Month
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WHEREAS, the concept of creating Black History Month can be traced back to the year 1915, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson traveled to Illinois to participate in the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which legally ended slavery. Dr. Woodson was among many that participated as an exhibitor during the three-week celebration; and
WHEREAS, witnessing the interest, curiosity, and demand for knowledge, Dr. Woodson decided to form an organization whose purpose would be to encourage the study of Black history and life, including the plenteous contributions of people of African descent to civilization. Thus, on September 9, 1915, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) was founded in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, the first official observance, known as Negro History Week, was held in February of 1926. The second week of February was chosen to incorporate the birthdays of two notable figures in Black history: Abraham Lincoln who signed the Emancipation Proclamation and Frederick Douglass who was an escaped slave and devoted abolitionist; and
WHEREAS, in an effort to tailor the focus during Negro History Week, the ASNLH began creating an annual theme, and in 1937 the Negro History Bulletin was established to promote the theme and to create a venue for circulating information about Negro History Week on a larger scale; and
WHEREAS, in the 1940’s, the observance of Negro History Week slowly began to expand into a month-long commemoration. Then in the 1960’s, with the increasing momentum of the Civil Rights Movement, both the name and the duration of the celebration changed. In many places, including college campuses, instead of celebrating Negro History Week, people began unofficially celebrating Black History Month; and
WHEREAS, President Gerald R. Ford became the first president to acknowledge Black History Week. On February 3, 1975, he issued a “Message on the Observance of Black History Week” and encouraged Americans to “recognize the important contributions made to our nation’s life and culture by black citizens” that “have too long been obscured and unsung”; and
WHEREAS, in 1976, Black History Week was officially changed to Black History Month. On February 10, 1976, in recognition of this milestone, President Ford issued the first “Message on the Observance of Black History Month”; and
WHEREAS, on February 11, 1986, Congress passed Public Law 99-244, designating February 1986 as “National Black (Afro-American) History Month”. While there have been some years in which Presidential Proclamations were not issued, since 1996 Presidential Proclamations have become a standard tradition; and
WHEREAS, the transformation from a weeklong observance to a month-long celebration was a major accomplishment for the ASNLH (now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History). The change captured Dr. Woodson’s long held belief that the history, accomplishments, and achievements of African Americans were too meaningful to be crowded into a one-week event; and
WHEREAS, the theme of this year’s celebration of Black History Month is “African Americans and Labor.” This theme honors the significant contributions and enduring legacy of Black Americans in the workforce, highlighting the central role labor has played in shaping their experiences and driving progress; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District) salutes the infinite, dynamic, and illustrious history of African Americans and proudly salutes Black History Month in an annual commemoration. This year’s celebration commenced on February 3rd, with the raising of the Pan-African flag at the Barbara J. McGowan Main Office Building, as well as at all of the District plants. On February 20th, the District’s commemoration will culminate with the annual Black History Month program, featuring guest speakers Irma Holloway, Executive Director for Black Contractors Owners and Executives; Fletcher J. Holmes, Jr., Business Agent and Political Director for Ironworkers Local 63; Jonathan Jones, Director of Diversity for Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council; Marcus Jordan, DEIA Outreach Coordinator for Operating Engineers Local 150 and the Indiana Illinois Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting; Elijah S. Olomoniyi, Park Ranger for Pullman National Historic Park; and Joe Wells, DEIA Outreach Coordinator for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 134; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and our staff, do hereby recognize the month of February as Black History Month; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
Dated: February 6, 2025