PROCLAMATION: CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

DUTCHESS COUNTY LEGISLATURE Proclamation: Celebrating Black History Month The Dutchess County Legislature offers the following and moves its adoption: WHEREAS, Black History Month, celebrated every February, was established in 1976 to honor the profound contributions of African Americans to our nation's history, its origins trace back to 1926 when historian Carter G. Woodson initiated "Negro History Week" to highlight the significant achievements of Black individuals, and WHEREAS, the narrative of America is inextricably linked to the experiences and contributions of Black Americans, from the forced labor of enslaved Africans who built the economic foundation of this country to the innovators, artists, and leaders who have shaped its culture and values, Black history is American history, and WHEREAS, in Dutchess County, New York, African Americans have played a pivotal role. In 1858, abolitionist Frederick Douglass delivered a powerful speech in Poughkeepsie, rallying thousands to the cause of justice and the end of slavery and Jane Matilda Bolin, a Poughkeepsie native, broke barriers as the first African American female judge in the United States, and WHEREAS, the concept of intersectionality reminds us that the Black experience is not monolithic as it encompasses a diverse range of identities, including gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic status, each contributing uniquely to the rich tapestry of our society, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED that the Dutchess County Legislature, does hereby proclaim February as Black History Month and acknowledge that discussing America's past, present, and future without recognizing the indispensable contributions of Black Americans is virtually impossible. Let us honor this month with a commitment to learn, reflect, and act, ensuring that the legacy of Black Americans continues to inspire and guide us, and, be it further RESOLVED that the Dutchess County Legislature affirms that Black history is not a separate entity but a fundamental part of the American story, deserving recognition, celebration, and integration into our collective consciousness. Resolution 2025027 STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF DUTCHESS sS: original resolution and of the whole thereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and scal of said Legislature this 10% day of February 2025. LEIGH WAGER, CLERK OF THE LEGISLATURE