BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó




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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                         SR 54|
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                                    THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SR 54
          Author:   Hall (D) and Mitchell (D)
          Introduced:1/4/16  
          Vote:     Majority  

           SUBJECT:   Black History Month


          SOURCE:    Author


          DIGEST:  This resolution recognizes February 2016 as Black History  
          Month.
          ANALYSIS:  This resolution makes the following legislative  
          findings:


          1)Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, distinguished African American  
            author, editor, publisher, and historian, who is known as the  
            "Father of Black History," founded Negro History Week in 1926,  
            which became Black History Month in 1976, intended to  
            encourage further research and publishing regarding the untold  
            stories of African American heritage.

          2)The history of African Americans here in the U.S., as well as  
            throughout the ages, is indeed unique and vibrant, and it is  
            appropriate to celebrate this history during the month of  
            February 2016, which has been proclaimed as Black History  
            Month.

          3)There is even greater cause for reverent celebration in 2016  
            as Americans reflect on the significance of the 150th  
            anniversary of the proposal of the Fourteenth Amendment to the  
            United States Constitution, which granted due process and  
            equal protection under the law to all citizens, and at the  








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                                                                    Page  2



            same time granted citizenship to African Americans.

          4)The first American to shed blood in the revolution that freed  
            America from British rule was Crispus Attucks (March 5, 1770,  
            Boston Massacre), an African American seaman and slave.  
            African Americans also fought in various wars, including the  
            Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, the Battle of  
            Rhode Island on August 29, 1778, the battles of Ticonderoga,  
            White Plains, Bennington, Brandywine, Saratoga, Savannah,  
            Yorktown, Bunker Hill, and other revolutionary war battles;  
            the War of 1812, including the Battle of New Orleans; the  
            Civil War; the Spanish-American War; World Wars I and II  
            Korea; and the Vietnam War.

          5)From the earliest days of the U.S., the course of its history  
            has been greatly influenced by Black heroes and pioneers in  
            many diverse areas, from science, medicine, business, and  
            education, to government, industry, and social leadership.  

          6)A number of these brave and accomplished individuals, such as  
            Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, Matthew  
            Hansen, Daniel Hale Williams, Dr. Charles Drew, Jackie  
            Robinson, Jesse Owens, Curt Flood, Medgar Evers, and, of  
            course, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., are noted prominently in  
            the history books of students nationwide, thus enabling them  
            to learn about the important and lasting contributions of  
            these individuals.

          This resolution recognizes February 2016 as Black History Month,  
          urges all citizens to join in celebrating the accomplishments of  
          African Americans during Black History Month, and encourages the  
          people of California to recognize the many talents,  
          achievements, and contributions that African Americans make to  
          their communities.


          Related Legislation


          SCR 76 (Mitchell, 2014) recognized February 2014 as Black  
          History Month.  This resolution died in Assembly Rules  
          Committee.








                                                                      SR 54 
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          ACR 9 (Mitchell, Resolution Chapter 8, Statutes of 2013)  
          recognized February 2013 as Black History Month.

          SR 24 (Price, 2012) recognized February 2012 as Black History  
          Month.  The resolution was adopted by the Senate.
          
          FISCAL EFFECT:   Appropriation:    No          Fiscal  
          Com.:NoLocal:    No


          SUPPORT:   (Verified1/27/16)


          None received


          OPPOSITION:   (Verified1/27/16)


          None received





          Prepared by:  Jonas Austin / SFA / (916) 651-1520
          1/29/16 11:24:26


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