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A RESOLUTION recognizing the value of history as a tool to help ensure a 1
positive and beneficial future for all citizens. 2
WHEREAS, since before its founding, the United States of America has benefited 3
from and been enhanced by the integral role Black Americans have played in our 4
country’s history and contributions to the world; and 5
WHEREAS, Black history does not begin in the Americas. It can be traced back to 6
the great empires of West Africa beginning in A.D. 790, which aided the establishment 7
and survival of colonies in America and the New World, generally, and fought against 8
European oppression; and 9
WHEREAS, Black Americans have represented a significant portion of the 10
American population, constituting nearly 20 percent at the time of the signing of the 11
Declaration of Independence, almost all of whom, if not all, were victims of the largest 12
forced deportation in recorded history, the transatlantic slave trade and resulting African 13
diaspora. It is estimated over 10,000,000 free Africans were enslaved between the mid-14
fifteenth and nineteenth centuries during the diaspora; and 15
WHEREAS, Black Americans continue to fight discrimination, structural racism, 16
economic inequities, and benign and overt omission of the integral role they played in our 17
country’s rise to greatness; and 18
WHEREAS, racism has long been and continues to be deeply rooted in our society; 19
and 20
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has in the past celebrated racist 21
individuals and institutions and, despite some progress, remains a Commonwealth with 22
more work to do, including eliminating microaggressions and other forms of exclusion 23
consistently endured by Black Kentuckians; and 24
WHEREAS, historic and ongoing structural and systemic barriers in our society 25
prevent Black Americans and communities of color from thriving in our country; and 26
WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of each of us to ensure we understand the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1315
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history of our own privileges, racism, and biases and the impact of our actions, or lack 1
thereof, on the Black community, Native people, and other communities of color; and 2
WHEREAS, all of those with privileges and power should take full responsibility to 3
continuously work in partnership with communities of color to recognize, examine, and 4
address our own beliefs, biases, and privileges as we reaffirm our values of justice and 5
equity; and 6
WHEREAS, to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past we must hold our leaders 7
accountable to evaluate themselves and the systems over which they have power to 8
actively combat and dismantle racism and oppression in all forms and to embrace unity, 9
build bridges between communities, and heal divisions; and 10
WHEREAS, we all must take a pledge to advance reforms to address years of 11
neglectful and apathetic policies that have led to poor health outcomes for communities 12
of color; and 13
WHEREAS, to help ensure a positive and beneficial future for all citizens, these 14
must not simply be words on a page but must represent enduring structural change and a 15
willingness to dismantle systems that perpetuate racial inequities to create justice for the 16
Black comminity and all other minority communities; and 17
WHEREAS, we should not accept apathy, indifference, or silence to such ongoing 18
violence and inequities, which otherwise allows hatred, prejudice, and intolerance to 19
fester and grow; and 20
WHEREAS, we must break down our own personal barriers and embrace the need 21
to have uncomfortable talks and real, honest, and transparent conversations directed 22
towards addressing these injustices; and 23
WHEREAS, these actions will allow us to learn from our history, prevent us from 24
repeating the same mistakes, and arm us with the knowledge to create a meaningful 25
impact for all citizens; 26
NOW, THEREFORE, 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1315
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Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 1
Kentucky: 2
Section 1. The members of the Senate, individually and collectively, hereby 3
acknowledge that: 4
(1) Racism is an affliction that we must never enable and we should all be active 5
antiracists in taking responsibility to condemn and to end; 6
(2) We need to identify and challenge systemic prejudice wherever it exists, and 7
acknowledge that we are all accountable for doing the work necessary for policy changes 8
that dismantle structural systems of oppression that perpetuate racial inequities in our 9
society; 10
(3) We will strive to be better listeners and supporters of those who are the 11
victims of racism, and that we will never rest until every person feels safe, free, and 12
accepted in our Commonwealth; and 13
(4) We will continuously abide by the goal of providing respect and equal 14
treatment to all in upholding the rule of law. 15
Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 16
Resolution to Senator Gerald Neal. 17