ADOPTED - FEBRUARY 10, 2004

AGENDA ITEM NO. 11

Introduced by the County Services Committee of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING "BLACK HISTORY/CULTURAL

DIVERSITY MONTH" IN INGHAM COUNTY

RESOLUTION #04-029

WHEREAS, each February "National African American History Month" also known as "Black History Month" is observed to celebrate and honor the many achievements and contributions made by African Americans to our economic, cultural, spiritual, and political development; and

WHEREAS, in 1915, Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson founded The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History and through that Association, he began pressing for the establishment of Negro History Week as a way to bring national attention to the accomplishments of African Americans; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Woodson's dream became a reality in 1926, he chose the second week of February for the observance because of its proximity to the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two individuals whom Dr. Woodson felt had dramatically affected the lives of African Americans; and

WHEREAS, in the early 1970's the event was called Black History Week, and in 1976, the Association succeeded in expanding the observance, which then became Black History Month; and

WHEREAS, the United States is a diverse nation comprised of citizens from various ethnic groups and cultures; and

WHEREAS, it is important to promote a greater awareness of the history and culture of all ethnic groups across our country.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby recognizes the month of February as "Black History/Cultural Diversity Month" in Ingham County.

COUNTY SERVICES: Yeas: Swope, Thomas, De Leon, Hertel, Severino, Nevin

Nays: None Absent: None Approved 2/3/04