Black History Month

WHEREAS, Black History Month is observed in February of each year; and

WHEREAS, Black History Month seeks to highlight Black history and is designed to recognize and pay tribute to the many contributions of Black Americans to the history, society and culture of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, the celebration of Black Americans’ contributions to our history began in 1926 with Negro History week, and each year since 1976, February has been designated Black History Month in our nation, and the President of the United States has proclaimed the month of February to be Black History Month; and

WHEREAS, the 2018 national theme is “African Americans in Times of War” which recognizes the heroes of Black history and their largely unrecognized contributions to the military and wars; and

WHEREAS, we pay tribute to this long history, including Freedman’s Village, a community for freed slaves after the Civil War located on what is now Arlington National Cemetery, and recognize the members of the Armed Forces who have fought bravely for our nation, while often not receiving equal treatment as their white counterparts;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Katie Cristol, Chair of the County Board in Arlington, Virginia, do hereby proclaim February 2018, as

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

in Arlington County and call upon the residents of the County to observe this occasion by recognizing the contributions of Black Americans to our society in general and to Arlington County in particular.

Katie Cristol, Chair