HomeMy Public PortalAbout1990_02_27_R039L
~s~urg in ~Virginia
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION:
PRESENTED February 27, 1990
90-39 ADOPTED ~hr,mry 27: 1990
OBSERVING AND HONORING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AS BLACK
HISTORY MONTH
WHEREAS, in February of 1926, sixty-one years after the ratification of the thirteenth
Amendment to the United States Constitution, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a noted historian, felt a need
to recognize the achievements and contributions of Black Americans in this country; and
WHEREAS, the month of February was appropriately chosen to recognize the achievements of
Black Americans as it contained the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, and the
traditional one-week observance was expanded in 1976 to include the entire month of February:
THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia as follows:
The month of February, 1990 is hereby proclaimed as BLACK HISTORY MONTH and the
citizens of Leesburg are urged to join in recognizing the importance of Black History Month and in
educating the young people of our community in preserving and remembering the accomplishments of
Black Americans throughout the history of our great nation.
PASSED this 27th day of February
ATTEST:
Clerk of Cou~il
, 1990.
Robert E. Se'vile, Mayor
Town of Leesburg
Blacks Have Come a Long Way
Editor, Leesburg Today:
Blacks have come a long way since the early 1900s. In 1904, Mary McLeod
Be" 'ne arrived in Daytona Beach, Fla. with only a dollar and a half and a
bt, .~g desire to start a school for African American girls. She started her
school in an old cabin with only five students. Today, her school, Bethune
Cookman College, is a four year accredited institution which graduates 500
students annually. Madame C.G. Walker was America's first black woman
millionaire. She went from washing clothes to being extremely successful in the
cosmetics market, a market she created for black women.
The Camelot of America's musical nobility was when musicians like Duke
Ellington and Cab Calloway performed. They helped to create the Harlem
Renaissance of the 1920s. But the opportunity of blacks getting ahead wasn't
always a matter of skin color. Luckil~y, Garret A. Morgan didn't see race as an
obstacle. Instead, this son of a former slave Overcame tremendous prejudice to
become one of America's most important inventors. His creations varied from
hair straightening creams to the invention that saved thousand of lives during
World War I, the gas mask. But it was Mr. Morgan's development of the traffic
signal which symbolized his life. In 1923, automobiles were increasing in
numbers, and unfortunately so were automobile accidents. After witnessing an
automobile accident outside of his home, Garret developed and sold his patent
_ Leesburg Today March 2, 1990 Page 5
to General Electric. His refusal to let skin color stand in the way of his achieve-
ments showed his perseverance. Though Garret invented the traffic signal, he
never once saw a racial red light.
Let us not forget the African Americans who are making history today for
our generations to come.
lorence Griffith Joyner, an Olympic Gold medalist, is a woman who
exceeded her dreams and desires. Also Oprah Winfrey, a television talk show
personality who hosts her own show on a variety of topics such as AIDS,
teenage pregnancies, and many others. Art Shell, head coach of the Los Angeles
Raiders, proves that if one applies himself to his goals it can be obtained. Spike
Lee, who wrote, produced and played in such films as She Gotta Have It, School
Days and Do the Right Thing. His determination proves that he can be all that he
wants to be by the success of his work.
In appreciation of Black History Month, I would like to say hats off to all
African Americans who have had such great creativity and effect on thousands
of young and old African Americans-- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., George
Washington Carver, Jackie Robinson, Frederick Douglass, Miss Jane Pittman and
all the many others who provided positive role models for generations to come
in the African American heritage.
Dwayne S. Matchett
Leesburg