Rhode Island 2023 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5326 Introduced / Bill

                     
 
 
 
2023 -- H 5326 
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S TATE  OF RHODE IS LAND 
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023 
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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N 
PROCLAIMING FEBRUARY OF 2023, AS "BLACK HISTORY MONTH" IN THE STATE 
OF RHODE ISLAND 
Introduced By: Representatives Felix, Hull, Abney, Biah, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, 
Henries, Chippendale, Tanzi, and Kennedy 
Date Introduced: February 02, 2023 
Referred To: House read and passed 
 
 
WHEREAS, Throughout the history of the United States of America, truly significant 1 
African-American contributions to the economy, social growth, sciences, and arts in this great 2 
nation have all too often been ignored. In recognition of this plethora of major accomplishments 3 
made by men and women of African ancestry, the month of February is celebrated as "Black 4 
History Month" across the nation; and 5 
WHEREAS, It is also vital to understand that every day of every month of every year in 6 
the history of our country, significant and historical contributions have been made by African-7 
Americans; and  8 
WHEREAS, African-Americans were first brought to America forcibly. They were 9 
enslaved, faced inhuman cruelty, and were subjected to injustices beyond understanding. Families 10 
were torn apart, lynching went unpunished, and segregation and denial of fundamental 11 
constitutional rights and protections went on for decades; and  12 
WHEREAS, Though these men and women suffered immense tragedies and social 13 
inequalities, they also persevered, and their triumphs and contributions to the economic, artistic, 14 
literary, scientific, and technological advancement of our country are significant and momentous; 15 
and   16 
WHEREAS, African-Americans have been an integral part of Rhode Island's social, 17 
political, and economic development from its beginning as a British colony, to its inclusion in the 18 
formation of the United States, to the rich diversity of today's Ocean State; and  19   
 
 
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WHEREAS, From the initial shots fired in the struggle for American Independence, to 1 
the participation of the Rhode Island 1
st
 Black Regiment in the Battle of Newport, to the garrisons 2 
of the Rhode Island 14
th
 Heavy Artillery Regiment (Colored) in 1863, Americans of African 3 
descent have responded to the call of duty; and  4 
WHEREAS, In recognition of the numerous positive and patriotic contributions of 5 
African-American Rhode Islanders in the United States military, we honor their legacy of 6 
bravery, honor, and sacrifice. From the earliest recordation of Black History in our state, 7 
including those of slaves, former slaves, and free men, African-Americans have served with pride 8 
to protect our vital interests and provide for our common defense; and  9 
WHEREAS, Structures in the City of Newport, such as the Brick Market, later used as 10 
the town hall and theater; the Old Colony House, which at one time served Rhode Island as its 11 
capitol; and the oldest library in America, the Redwood Library, stand as lasting and beautiful 12 
tributes to the African-Americans who lived in our state and played a major role in the 13 
construction of these magnificent historic structures; and  14 
WHEREAS, Many African-Americans have made enormous and significant 15 
contributions to our nation, from Dr. Martin Luther King, whose eloquent and courageous actions 16 
on behalf of freedom and liberty for all earned him the Nobel Peace Prize and started our nation 17 
on the long and all-too-slow path towards equality for all, and President Barack Obama our 18 
nation's first African-American President, who continued and expanded upon Dr. King's vision 19 
through his support for expanding healthcare access for everyone, diversified the federal 20 
bureaucracy, strengthened women's right to fair pay, and protected LGBTQ citizens from 21 
employment discrimination; and 22 
WHEREAS, Other African-Americans who have contributed much to our nation's 23 
vibrancy and success include Maya Angelou, the noted poet, civil rights activist, and recipient of 24 
the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President 25 
Barack Obama, famed novelist James Baldwin, famous inventor George Washington Carver, 26 
Civil Rights activist and educator Mary McLeod Bethune, Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm, the 27 
first African-American to run for President of the United States, noted author and abolitionist 28 
Frederick Douglass, Doctor Charles Drew, whose research and work on plasma literally saved 29 
millions of lives, famous sociologist, writer and activist W.E.B. Du Bois, noted jazz composer 30 
and bandleader Duke Ellington, Civil Rights activist Jesse Jackson, film director Spike Lee, 31 
famed actors Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington, the great Hall of Fame baseball player 32 
Jackie Robinson, who courageously faced down death threats to integrate Major League Baseball, 33 
famous boxers and American heroes Joe Louis and Muhammed Ali, Supreme Court Justice 34   
 
 
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Thurgood Marshall, who, as a lawyer, won the famous Brown v. Board of Education public 1 
school desegregation case before the United States Supreme Court, photographer Gordon Parks, 2 
Olympic heroes Jesse Owens and Rafer Johnson, Abolition activists Sojourner Truth and Harriet 3 
Tubman, and noted educator, Civil Rights activist Booker T. Washington, golf legend Tiger 4 
Woods, tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams and numerous other African-Americans; 5 
and 6 
WHEREAS, The United States and particularly the State of Rhode Island owe a debt of 7 
gratitude to our African-American citizens and their forefathers, whose documented 8 
achievements have too long gone unrecognized; and  9 
WHEREAS, The theme for 2023 Black History Month is "Black Resistance." "African 10 
Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial 11 
terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms, and police killings since our arrival upon these shores. 12 
These efforts have been to advocate for a dignified self-determined life in a just democratic 13 
society in the United States and beyond the United States political jurisdiction"; now, therefore be 14 
it 15 
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 16 
proudly proclaims February as "Black History Month", and furthermore recognizes and applauds 17 
the sacrifices and myriad contributions made by African-American men and women throughout 18 
this great nation's history; and be it further  19 
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 20 
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society. 21 
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