Senate Resolution 8 - Introduced SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 8 BY BISIGNANO A Resolution designating February 12, 2015, as 1 Black History Day at the Iowa State Capitol for 2 recognition and celebration by educational and 3 historical groups throughout the state. 4 WHEREAS, Black History Month in the United States 5 dates back to 1926, based upon the efforts of Dr. 6 Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-educated scholar descended 7 from slave parents; and 8 WHEREAS, Black History Month is traditionally 9 observed in February of each year; and 10 WHEREAS, Black History Month is designated to 11 recognize and pay tribute to many African Americans 12 long neglected by society and the history books; and 13 WHEREAS, the Iowa General Assembly has designated 14 a day each February to focus particular attention 15 on Black History Month as recognized and celebrated 16 by educational and historical groups throughout the 17 state; and 18 WHEREAS, February 12, 2015, Abraham Lincoln’s 19 birthday, has been selected as the day to observe 20 and recognize Black History Month at the Iowa State 21 Capitol; and 22 WHEREAS, as part of Black History Day, the Senate 23 wishes to celebrate and inform all Iowans of the 24 history of the contributions African Americans have 25 made to the Iowa General Assembly, especially those 26 African American members who represent historic firsts 27 and exemplify the ideal of the citizen legislator; and 28 -1- LSB 2341XS (3) 86 ec/rj 1/ 2
S.R. 8 WHEREAS, in 1983, Thomas Mann Jr. became the first, 1 and to this day the only, African American to serve 2 in the Iowa General Assembly as a member of the Iowa 3 Senate during the 70th, 71st, 72nd, and 73rd Iowa 4 General Assemblies; and 5 WHEREAS, Thomas Mann Jr. personifies the ideals of 6 a citizen legislator, serving on several legislative 7 committees, including as Chairperson of the Judiciary 8 Committee, while also serving as an Iowa Assistant 9 Attorney General and as Executive Director of the Iowa 10 Civil Rights Commission; NOW THEREFORE, 11 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate 12 designates February 12, 2015, as Black History Day at 13 the Iowa State Capitol and encourages all Iowans during 14 the month of February to recognize and celebrate the 15 important contributions African Americans have made 16 to Iowa, especially those African Americans who have 17 served as members of the Iowa General Assembly. 18 -2- LSB 2341XS (3) 86 ec/rj 2/ 2