Black history month

WHEREAS, Dr. Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland founded the 1
association, Study of Negro Life and History, dedicating the 2
association to research and promoting achievements by Black people in 3
a time when he saw Black history "overlooked, ignored, and even 4
suppressed by the writers of history textbooks and the teachers who 5
use them"; and 6
WHEREAS, The beginnings of Black history in the United States was 7
identified by the unfairly strenuous struggle of slavery, Jim Crow, 8
and segregation that lasted far too long; and 9
WHEREAS, Even today, over 162 years after Black slaves were 10
freed, Black Americans continue to face injustice and unfairness; and11
WHEREAS, The 2025 Black History Month theme, "African Americans 12
and Labor," brings to light the great deeds and efforts of African 13
Americans to the workforce of the United States; and14
WHEREAS, Martha Jones became the first Black woman to receive a 15
patent for her improvement to the Corn Husker, Sheller in 1868, just 16
three years after the passage of the 13th Amendment; and17
WHEREAS, In 1889, William Owen Bush became the first Black 18
American to serve in the Washington Territorial Legislature 19
representing Thurston County; and 20
WHEREAS, Representatives Charles Stokes and Marjorie Pitter King 21
were the first Black American man and woman to serve in the 22
legislature following the proclamation of Washington statehood; and23
SENATE RESOLUTION
8617
By Senators Lovick, Hasegawa, and Muzzall
p. 1 8617
WHEREAS, Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman 1
elected to Congress in 1968, where she worked on the Education 2
and Labor Committee and helped form the Black Caucus, and she 3
made history again in 1972, when she became the first Black 4
woman of a major party to run for a presidential nomination; and5
WHEREAS, In the words of poet and State Representative 6
Maurice N. Corbett, who was born to an enslaved mother in 1859, 7
Black Americans had grown accustomed to adversity before gaining 8
freedom, "But worked he with celerity, to leave to his 9
posterity, not laborer's legacy alone, but something real to 10
call his own"; and 11
WHEREAS, Black individuals are woven tight into the fabric 12
of all aspects of our shared life, their work, joy, and love 13
driving this nation forward; and 14
WHEREAS, A society supports what it doesn't work to change. 15
Knowing this, Black activists have worked tirelessly to move our 16
reality closer to an equal world; and 17
WHEREAS, Whatever human virtue can be imagined, so too can a 18
Black individual be found to have represented that good, and so 19
we in the state of Washington resolve to acknowledge that 20
representation. In this month of February in the year 2025, we 21
move with the most sincere of intentions to center our Black 22
sisters and brothers, friends and mothers in our hearts, minds, 23
and conversations; 24
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State 25
Senate celebrate Black History Month and recognize the 26
innumerable contributions of Black Americans to the lives of 27
Washingtonians. 28
I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate, 29
do hereby certify that this is a true and 30
correct copy of Senate Resolution 8617, 31
adopted by the Senate 32
February 20, 2025 33
SARAH BANNISTER 34
Secretary of the Senate 35
p. 2 8617