HR 401 — A Resolution recognizing the month of February 2026 as "Black History Month" in Pennsylvania and celebrating a century of immeasurable contributions, resilience and sacrifices of African Americans in helping to shape our Commonwealth and nation.

PRINTER'S NO.   2798

                    THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 401
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY N. NELSON, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, SANCHEZ,
        PASHINSKI, PROBST, SCHLOSSBERG, SHUSTERMAN, VENKAT, PIELLI,
        GUZMAN, FREEMAN, BRENNAN, RIVERA AND VITALI, JANUARY 23, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, RECREATION AND ECONOMIC
        DEVELOPMENT, JANUARY 26, 2026


                                A RESOLUTION
 1   Recognizing the month of February 2026 as "Black History Month"
 2      in Pennsylvania and celebrating a century of immeasurable
 3      contributions, resilience and sacrifices of African Americans
 4      in helping to shape our Commonwealth and nation.
 5      WHEREAS, The contributions of African-American citizens as
 6   scientists, inventors, legislators, farmers, educators,
 7   explorers and countless other professions have positively
 8   impacted every sphere of influence within this Commonwealth; and
 9      WHEREAS, In 1915, in response to the dearth of information
10   that existed in the public domain regarding the feats and
11   accomplishments of African Americans, Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson,
12   an African-American historian, founded the Association for the
13   Study of Negro Life and History, which is now known as the
14   Association for the Study of African American Life and History
15   (ASALH); and
16      WHEREAS, In an effort to further build upon the mission and
17   scope of the ASALH, on February 7, 1926, Dr. Woodson designated
18   the second week of February as "Negro History Week," which was
 1   chosen for the initial weeklong celebration to honor the birth
 2   month of President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick
 3   Douglass; and
 4         WHEREAS, Dr. Woodson, often referred to as the "Father of
 5   Black History," dedicated his life to the field of African-
 6   American history and encouraged the coordinated teaching and
 7   study of the history of African Americans in our nation's
 8   schools; and
 9         WHEREAS, In 1928, ASALH established its first annual theme
10   for what was then known as "Negro History Week," which was
11   "Civilization: A World Achievement"; and
12         WHEREAS, Over the course of several decades following the
13   inception of "Negro History Week," many local municipalities,
14   colleges and universities across the country began celebrating
15   the observance in an augmented form as "Black History Month";
16   and
17         WHEREAS, In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized
18   and included "Black History Month" as part of the United States
19   Bicentennial, urging Americans to "seize the opportunity to
20   honor the too often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans
21   in every area of human endeavor throughout our history"; and
22         WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus has always
23   endeavored to vigorously advocate for the needs of all people of
24   color in this Commonwealth by acting as a unified voice
25   concerning the issues that most acutely impact their daily
26   lives; and
27         WHEREAS, This year marks the 100th anniversary of "Black
28   History Month"; and
29         WHEREAS, This year's "Black History Month" theme, as
30   established and adopted by ASALH, is "A Century of Black History

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 1   Commemorations," acknowledging the profound role that work of
 2   all kinds, free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, vocational
 3   and voluntary, has played in the experiences of Black people;
 4   and
 5         WHEREAS, The labor movement and civil rights movement have
 6   always been intertwined in this nation and this Commonwealth;
 7   and
 8         WHEREAS, Due to the work of Black labor activists in
 9   Philadelphia, the United States President announced The
10   Philadelphia Plan in 1967 to increase diversity within the
11   building trades; and
12         WHEREAS, Today, Black labor leaders and policymakers in
13   Pennsylvania continue to improve union participation in their
14   communities through pre-apprenticeship programs and public
15   awareness campaigns in schools; and
16         WHEREAS, "Black History Month" is an opportunity for all
17   citizens to commemorate the historical hardships and
18   achievements of African Americans, laud their invaluable
19   contributions to both our domestic and global community and
20   acknowledge the sacrifices that African Americans have made on
21   behalf and in defense of our great nation; therefore be it
22         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
23   month of February 2026 as "Black History Month" in Pennsylvania
24   and celebrate a century of immeasurable contributions,
25   resilience and sacrifices of African Americans in helping to
26   shape our Commonwealth and nation.




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