Title
A Proclamation In Recognition Of Black History Month, February 2016.
Body
Staff Recommends: Presentation of Proclamation.
Explanation:
Americans have recognized Black History Month annually since 1926, first as "Negro History Week" and later as "Black History Month".
The person largely responsible for the origin of this celebration is Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard educated scholar who established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History) in 1915 and founded the Journal of Negro History in 1916. In 1926, Dr. Woodson launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of black people. The actual celebration of "Black History Month" did not start until the 1960`s. Dr. Woodson chose February as the month to celebrate Black History because of the significance the month of February had on Black American history.
This year's theme for Black History Month 2016 is "Hallowed Grounds: Sites Of African American Memories.”
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Peter Bober, Mayor
Anthony Grisby, Community Development Program Administrator