By: West S.R. No. 175
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month in
February 2025 provides an opportunity to recognize the rich
cultural heritage of African Americans and the significant
contributions they have made and are continuing to make 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 whose parents had been
enslaved; he sought a means of educating all U.S. citizens 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 join him "in 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 Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca on a trek across the land that
would later become the Lone Star State; by the end of the 18th
century, some 450 individuals of African origin lived in Spanish
Texas, and in the early 1800s, many African Americans who had
been 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; and
WHEREAS, Freed of their shackles at the end of the Civil
War, Black citizens applied themselves to new realms of endeavor;
many moved to urban centers, and in the years that followed,
provided labor for new industries that were established; African
Americans also excelled in tasks that ranged from ranching and
military duty to service as state legislators; moreover, a people
who just a few short years before had been held in bondage
enrolled in schools and colleges as they sought a path to a better
future and a means of coping with the difficult challenges that
surrounded them; 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, 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 Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature
hereby recognize February 2025 as Black History Month and
encourage all citizens to learn more about the history and
accomplishments of African Americans in the Lone Star State.