H.R. No. 487
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month in February
2009 provides an opportunity to recognize the rich cultural
heritage of African Americans and the significant contributions
they have made and are making in the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, An event celebrating black history was established
in 1926 as a weeklong observance by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, an author
and scholar and the son of former slaves who sought a means of
educating non-black Americans about African American culture and
engendering pride among black Americans; the tribute was expanded
to a month in 1976 and was officially recognized by President Gerald
Ford, who encouraged all Americans to pay " . . . tribute to Black
History Month and the message of courage and perseverance it brings
to all of us"; and
WHEREAS, People of African descent have a long history in
Texas; in 1528, a Moor named Estevan accompanied the Spanish
explorer Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca on a trek across our state; by
the end of the 18th century, some 450 individuals of African origins
lived in Spanish Texas, and in the early 1800s many African
Americans enslaved in the American South crossed the Sabine River,
seeking their freedom and settling in East Texas; and
WHEREAS, In the 19th century, before emancipation, African
Americans played an enormous role in producing the state's
agricultural bounty and also worked as skilled artisans; after the
Civil War, many moved to urban centers, and in the years to follow,
provided manpower for new industries that were established; and
WHEREAS, African American infantry and cavalry garrisoned
forts in West Texas during the Indian Wars; known as "Buffalo
Soldiers," they patrolled the frontier with the assistance of
Seminole-Negro Indian scouts, built roads, and escorted mail
carriers; Sergeant Emmanuel Stance, stationed at Fort McKavett, was
the first African American who fought in the Indian Wars to be
awarded the Medal of Honor; and
WHEREAS, Since the early 1800s, African Americans have been
involved in the cattle industry; one of the most famous black native
Texan cowboys was William Pickett, who became a Wild West rodeo
performer and who is believed to have originated the bulldogging
event; and
WHEREAS, In the mid-20th century, African Americans in Texas
significantly advanced the civil rights movement by filing and
winning lawsuits that outlawed the white primary and helped to
integrate graduate and professional schools; today, influential
African American leaders continue to follow in the footsteps of
their predecessors, taking their rightful place in the public arena
and promoting social justice; and
WHEREAS, African Americans have been a significant part of
the population of Texas for hundreds of years, and the celebration
of Black History Month acknowledges and promotes the immeasurable
benefits of living in a truly diverse society; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 2009 as Black History Month
and encourage all citizens to learn more about the history and
accomplishments of African Americans in the Lone Star State.
Giddings Allen Giddings Allen
Giddings Allen
Coleman Davis of Dallas Coleman Davis of Dallas
Coleman Davis of Dallas
Deshotel Dukes Deshotel Dukes
Deshotel Dukes
Dutton Edwards Dutton Edwards
Dutton Edwards
Hodge Mallory Caraway Hodge Mallory Caraway
Hodge Mallory Caraway
McClendon Naishtat McClendon Naishtat
McClendon Naishtat
Turner of Harris Veasey Turner of Harris Veasey
Turner of Harris Veasey
Straus Gattis Menendez Straus Gattis Menendez
Straus Gattis Menendez
Allen Geren Merritt Allen Geren Merritt
Allen Geren Merritt
Alonzo Giddings Miklos Alonzo Giddings Miklos
Alonzo Giddings Miklos
Alvarado Gonzales Miller of Comal Alvarado Gonzales Miller of Comal
Alvarado Gonzales Miller of Comal
Anchia Gonzalez Toureilles Miller of Erath Anchia Gonzalez Toureilles Miller of Erath
Anchia Gonzalez Toureilles Miller of Erath
Anderson Guillen Moody Anderson Guillen Moody
Anderson Guillen Moody
Aycock Gutierrez Morrison Aycock Gutierrez Morrison
Aycock Gutierrez Morrison
Berman Hamilton Naishtat Berman Hamilton Naishtat
Berman Hamilton Naishtat
Bohac Hancock Oliveira Bohac Hancock Oliveira
Bohac Hancock Oliveira
Bolton Hardcastle Olivo Bolton Hardcastle Olivo
Bolton Hardcastle Olivo
Bonnen Harless Orr Bonnen Harless Orr
Bonnen Harless Orr
Branch Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr. Branch Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr.
Branch Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr.
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Otto Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Otto
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Otto
Brown of Brazos Heflin Parker Brown of Brazos Heflin Parker
Brown of Brazos Heflin Parker
Burnam Hernandez Patrick Burnam Hernandez Patrick
Burnam Hernandez Patrick
Button Herrero Paxton Button Herrero Paxton
Button Herrero Paxton
Callegari Hilderbran Pena Callegari Hilderbran Pena
Callegari Hilderbran Pena
Castro Hochberg Phillips Castro Hochberg Phillips
Castro Hochberg Phillips
Chavez Hodge Pickett Chavez Hodge Pickett
Chavez Hodge Pickett
Chisum Homer Pierson Chisum Homer Pierson
Chisum Homer Pierson
Christian Hopson Pitts Christian Hopson Pitts
Christian Hopson Pitts
Cohen Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla Cohen Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla
Cohen Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla
Coleman Howard of Travis Raymond Coleman Howard of Travis Raymond
Coleman Howard of Travis Raymond
Cook Hughes Riddle Cook Hughes Riddle
Cook Hughes Riddle
Corte Hunter Rios Ybarra Corte Hunter Rios Ybarra
Corte Hunter Rios Ybarra
Crabb Isett Ritter Crabb Isett Ritter
Crabb Isett Ritter
Craddick Jackson Rodriguez Craddick Jackson Rodriguez
Craddick Jackson Rodriguez
Creighton Jones Rose Creighton Jones Rose
Creighton Jones Rose
Crownover Keffer Sheffield Crownover Keffer Sheffield
Crownover Keffer Sheffield
Darby Kent Shelton Darby Kent Shelton
Darby Kent Shelton
Davis of Harris King of Parker Smith of Tarrant Davis of Harris King of Parker Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Harris King of Parker Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Dallas King of Taylor Smith of Harris Davis of Dallas King of Taylor Smith of Harris
Davis of Dallas King of Taylor Smith of Harris
Deshotel King of Zavala Smithee Deshotel King of Zavala Smithee
Deshotel King of Zavala Smithee
Driver Kleinschmidt Solomons Driver Kleinschmidt Solomons
Driver Kleinschmidt Solomons
Dukes Kolkhorst Strama Dukes Kolkhorst Strama
Dukes Kolkhorst Strama
Dunnam Kuempel Swinford Dunnam Kuempel Swinford
Dunnam Kuempel Swinford
Dutton Laubenberg Taylor Dutton Laubenberg Taylor
Dutton Laubenberg Taylor
Edwards Legler Thibaut Edwards Legler Thibaut
Edwards Legler Thibaut
Eiland Leibowitz Thompson Eiland Leibowitz Thompson
Eiland Leibowitz Thompson
Eissler Lewis Truitt Eissler Lewis Truitt
Eissler Lewis Truitt
Elkins Lucio III Turner of Tarrant Elkins Lucio III Turner of Tarrant
Elkins Lucio III Turner of Tarrant
England Madden Turner of Harris England Madden Turner of Harris
England Madden Turner of Harris
Farabee Maldonado Vaught Farabee Maldonado Vaught
Farabee Maldonado Vaught
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farrar Marquez Villarreal Farrar Marquez Villarreal
Farrar Marquez Villarreal
Fletcher Martinez Vo Fletcher Martinez Vo
Fletcher Martinez Vo
Flores Martinez Fischer Walle Flores Martinez Fischer Walle
Flores Martinez Fischer Walle
Flynn McCall Weber Flynn McCall Weber
Flynn McCall Weber
Frost McClendon Woolley Frost McClendon Woolley
Frost McClendon Woolley
Gallego McReynolds Zerwas Gallego McReynolds Zerwas
Gallego McReynolds Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 487 was adopted by the House on
February 18, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Giddings Allen
Coleman Davis of Dallas
Deshotel Dukes
Dutton Edwards
Hodge Mallory Caraway
McClendon Naishtat
Turner of Harris Veasey
Straus Gattis Menendez
Allen Geren Merritt
Alonzo Giddings Miklos
Alvarado Gonzales Miller of Comal
Anchia Gonzalez Toureilles Miller of Erath
Anderson Guillen Moody
Aycock Gutierrez Morrison
Berman Hamilton Naishtat
Bohac Hancock Oliveira
Bolton Hardcastle Olivo
Bonnen Harless Orr
Branch Harper-Brown Ortiz, Jr.
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Otto
Brown of Brazos Heflin Parker
Burnam Hernandez Patrick
Button Herrero Paxton
Callegari Hilderbran Pena
Castro Hochberg Phillips
Chavez Hodge Pickett
Chisum Homer Pierson
Christian Hopson Pitts
Cohen Howard of Fort Bend Quintanilla
Coleman Howard of Travis Raymond
Cook Hughes Riddle
Corte Hunter Rios Ybarra
Crabb Isett Ritter
Craddick Jackson Rodriguez
Creighton Jones Rose
Crownover Keffer Sheffield
Darby Kent Shelton
Davis of Harris King of Parker Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Dallas King of Taylor Smith of Harris
Deshotel King of Zavala Smithee
Driver Kleinschmidt Solomons
Dukes Kolkhorst Strama
Dunnam Kuempel Swinford
Dutton Laubenberg Taylor
Edwards Legler Thibaut
Eiland Leibowitz Thompson
Eissler Lewis Truitt
Elkins Lucio III Turner of Tarrant
England Madden Turner of Harris
Farabee Maldonado Vaught
Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
Farrar Marquez Villarreal
Fletcher Martinez Vo
Flores Martinez Fischer Walle
Flynn McCall Weber
Frost McClendon Woolley
Gallego McReynolds Zerwas