Title
Recognizing and Honoring Robert W. Bogle and The Philadelphia Tribune for the Paper's Ongoing Commitment to Reflecting the African-American Experience Through Its Coverage During Black History Month and Publishing the List of the Philadelphia Region's Most Influential African-Americans.
Body
WHEREAS, Black History Month is celebrated during the month of February; and
WHEREAS, In February 2007, The Philadelphia Tribune published a special edition commemorating Black History Month entitled, The Struggle for Educational Equality; and
WHEREAS, The report carefully chronicles the history of the education of African-Americans from the time of being forcibly brought to North America, beginning with the arrival of twenty Africans to Jamestown, Va., in 1619; and
WHEREAS, The special edition astutely emphasized the importance of educational opportunity in ending the institution of slavery and for the progress of a people; and
WHEREAS, The special edition highlighted that during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, laws that forbade educating blacks were passed across the south, making it illegal for anyone, slave or slaveholder, to teach a slave; and
WHEREAS, Slaves who were caught learning to read or write were often beaten; and
WHEREAS, It was not until the mid-twentieth century that legal school segregation was finally overturned; and
WHEREAS, The report also chronicles many important developments in the advancement of African Americans in America including: the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863; the enactment of the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery in 1865; the enactment of the 14th Amendment recognizing African-Americans as U.S. citizens in 1868; and the ratification of the 15th Amendment outlawing the denial of the right to vote in 1870; and
WHEREAS, Writings such as The Struggle for Educational Equality are an important resource for reminding us of the challenges that we faced and continue to confront in America; ...
Click here for full text