PROCLAMATION
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
African-Americans have played a central role in our nation’s history,
but for too long historians ignored or glossed over their contributions
and the injustices they have suffered. The origins of Black History
Month can be traced to the scholar Carter G. Woodson, who in 1926
conceived a yearly celebration to help rectify the omission of
African-Americans from history books. Today, the observance of Black
History Month throughout the United States stands as testament to the
success of Woodson’s project and an example of how we can work together
to make the teaching of history more honest.
The theme of Black History Month 2014 is “Civil Rights in America.” In
the century between their formal emancipation and the successful
campaign to have their civil rights protected by the law,
African-Americans suffered oppression as brutal as the abuses of slavery
and exclusion from the ever-growing prosperity that other Americans
enjoyed. Facing terrible odds, they worked tirelessly to achieve full
equality with other citizens, and this month we celebrate their bravery,
toil and sacrifice on this long road to justice.
NOW THEREFORE I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of
California, do hereby proclaim February 2014, as “Black History Month.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal
of the State of California to be affixed this 30th day of January 2014.
__________________________________
EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor of California
