H.R. No. 154
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Many civic-minded Texans are gathering in Austin on
February 5, 2019, in celebration of Urban Leagues of Greater Texas
Day at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, In the early 20th century, African Americans
migrating to northern cities soon discovered that they had not
escaped racial discrimination; good jobs were denied them, and most
were forced to live in substandard housing; the National Urban
League formed in 1911 to address those issues, and the organization
trained African American social workers to help migrant families
attain educational and employment opportunities; and
WHEREAS, By the end of World War I, the league had established
operations in 30 cities and had evolved to take on new challenges;
in the 1930s, it advocated powerfully for the inclusion of African
Americans in the New Deal and fought to desegregate labor unions;
the Urban League later played a major role in the Civil Rights Era,
and it hosted Martin Luther King Jr., A. Philip Randolph, and other
leaders at planning meetings for the March on Washington; and
WHEREAS, The league continued to expand its mission, and in
the 1970s, it adopted a broader focus on such contemporary problems
as environmental protection and energy conservation, as well as on
the many aspects of poverty; today, members of the league continue
to work tirelessly in behalf of economic empowerment, educational
opportunity, and the guarantee of civil rights; and
WHEREAS, For more than a century, Urban League members have
dedicated themselves to securing social and economic justice for
all, and the organization continues to play a vital role in
communities across our state and nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 5, 2019, as Urban Leagues of
Greater Texas Day at the State Capitol and extend to participants
sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable visit to Austin.
Reynolds
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 154 was adopted by the House on
February 5, 2019, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House