2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
March 7, 2022 - Introduced by Representatives Drake,
Bowen, Haywood, Stubbs,
L. Myers, Baldeh, Moore Omokunde, Anderson, Andraca, Brostoff,
Cabrera, Conley, Considine, Emerson, Goyke, Hebl, Hesselbein, Hong,
Milroy, B. Meyers, Neubauer, Ohnstad, Ortiz-Velez, Pope, Riemer, S.
Rodriguez, Shankland, Shelton, Sinicki, Snodgrass, Spreitzer, Subeck,
Vining and Vruwink, cosponsored by Senators L. Taylor, Johnson, Bewley,
Carpenter, Larson, Ringhand, Roys and Wirch. Referred to Committee on
Rules.
AJR143,1,1
1Relating to: proclaiming February 2022 as Black History Month.
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Whereas, Black History Month provides a deliberate opportunity to reflect on
3the common humanity underlying all people and to raise awareness and foster
4respect for the heritage and contributions of people of African descent; and
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Whereas, this year marks over 400 years since the arrival of enslaved Africans
6in Virginia. The existence of Africans in North America can be traced back to 1525,
7and through 1866 the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade is estimated to have ensnared
8more than 12 million African people, with an estimated 10 million surviving the
9unconscionable Middle Passage, landing in North America, the Caribbean, and
10South America; and
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Whereas, Wisconsin history first references African descendants in a speech
12given in 1725 by a chief of the Illinois Indians, in which he said, “a negro belonging
13to Monsieur de Boisbriant" at Green Bay; and
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Whereas, on February 12, 1926, noted Harvard scholar and historian Dr.
15Carter G. Woodson founded “Negro History Week,” and since then the United States
1has recognized first Negro History Week and then Black History Month and
2celebrated the ethnic and racial diversity that enriches and strengthens our nation;
3and
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Whereas, both enslaved and free people of African descent have participated in
5every aspect of America's effort to secure, protect, and advance the cause of freedom
6and civil rights, and have stories that are an inspiration to all citizens, that reflect
7the triumph of the human spirit, and that offer the hopes of everyday people to rise
8above both prejudice and circumstance and to build lives of dignity; and
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Whereas, people of African descent or African Americans have made
10measurable differences in their respective industries, such as:
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11Activists and community leaders
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1.
Denmark Vesey—Carpenter and formerly enslaved person. Allegedly
13planned a revolt against slave owners in Charleston, South Carolina. Founder of the
14African Methodist Episcopal congregation that would become Emanuel African
15Methodist Episcopal Church.
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2.
Nat Turner—Preacher and Leader of Nat Turner's Rebellion in 1831.
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3.
Toussaint L'Ouverture—Haitian General and Leader of the Haitian
18Revolution.
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4.
Alicia Garza—Co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter and the Black Lives
20Matter Global Network, Strategy and Partnerships Director for the National
21Domestic Workers Alliance.
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5.
Opal Tometi—Human rights advocate and strategist, Co-founder of the
23Black Lives Matter movement.
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6.
Bobby Seale—Co-founder of the Black Panther Party.
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17.
Torre Johnson Sr.—Founder of X-Men United and community and youth
2advocate.
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8.
Gab Taylor—Cofounder of Program the Parks and member of Standing Up
4for Racial Justice MKE.
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9.
Fred Hampton—American activist and Chairman of the Illinois Chapter
6of the Black Panther Party.
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10.
Venice Williams–Founder and Executive Director of Alice's Garden and
8member of Kujichagulia Producers Cooperative.
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9Influential artists, writers, and journalists
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1.
Nikole Hannah Jones—Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist
11and for her involvement on the 1619 Project.
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2.
Gil Scott-Heron—Spoken word poet and musician.
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3.
Patrisse Cullors—Black Lives Matter activist, artist, and writer.
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4.
Bree Newsome—Filmmaker, musician, and activist who removed the
15Confederate Flag from the South Carolina state capitol on July 10, 2015.
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5.
Angela Y. Davis—Writer, teacher, activist, and Distinguished Professor
17Emerita at the University of California–Santa Cruz.
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18Entertainers and celebrities
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1.
Colin Kaepernick—Civil Rights Activist and Former NFL Quarterback.
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2.
Eddie O'Jay—Member of the Radio Hall of Fame, R&B disc jockey and
21radio personality of WOKY/Milwaukee.
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3.
Sidney Poitier—Award-winning actor who was the first Black actor to win
23the Academy Award for Best Actor. His decades-long career, starting in the 1940s,
24paved the way for many other Black actors, and he received the Presidential Medal
25of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2009. He passed away earlier this year.
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14.
Cicely Tyson—Award-winning actress whose storied career spanned seven
2decades. She was best known for her portrayal of strong Black women on television.
3She passed away last year.
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5.
Chadwick Boseman—Internationally acclaimed actor best known for his
5portrayal of T'Challa in Black Panther, as well as his portrayal of other historic Black
6figures like Jackie Robinson, James Brown, and Thurgood Marshall.
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6.
Giannis Antetokounmpo—The son of Nigerian immigrants and member
8of the Milwaukee Bucks who was the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2019 and 2020
9and led the Milwaukee Bucks to their second NBA Championship in 2021.
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10Public officials
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1.
Colin Powell—The son of Jamaican immigrants who became the first Black
12person to be confirmed as the United States Secretary of State. Mr. Powell also
13served in many other high profile positions including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
14of Staff, National Security Advisor, and Deputy National Security Advisor. He
15passed away last year due to complications from COVID-19.
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2.
David Crowley—Former state legislator, currently serving as the first
17Black Milwaukee County Executive, as well as the youngest individual to be elected
18to that position.
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3.
Rev. Dr. James G. White—Activist, Artist, and former Milwaukee County
20Supervisor.
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21First responders and law enforcement officers
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1.
Kalvin Barrett—Former Dane County deputy sheriff and the first Black
23officer with the Sun Prairie Police Department, currently serving as the first Black
24Sheriff of Dane County.
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12.
Brian Chaney Austin—19-year law enforcement veteran who is the
2current Chief of Police in the city of Monona.
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3.
Jeffrey B. Norman—Chief of the Milwaukee Police Department who has
4worked for over 25 years to maintain the integrity of the city's police force. He also
5holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of
6Wisconsin–Milwaukee, a Masters of Public Administration degree from Kaplan
7University, and a Juris Doctor degree from Marquette University Law School.
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8Entrepreneurs and business owners
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1.
Dana Guthrie—Managing Partner at Gateway Capital. She founded
10Alchemy Angel Investors while being employed full time at a Fortune 500 company
11and managing a multimillion-dollar, global product offering.
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2.
Nadiyah Johnson—A Milwaukee-based entrepreneur who is the founder
13of Jet Constellations and the Milky Way Tech Hub who works to expand access for
14People of Color and women in the tech industry.
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3.
Salone Monet—Founder and creative director of the color-inclusive nude
16shoe brand, Salone Monet. The color-inclusive line has adorned the feet of Beyoncé
17Knowles, Gabrielle Union, Keke Palmer, and a host of other influential women.
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4.
Virgil Abloh—American fashion designer and entrepreneur. He was the
19artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear collection beginning in 2018 and was
20given increased creative responsibilities across the LVMH brand in early 2021. Mr.
21Abloh was also the chief executive officer of the Milan-based label Off-White, a
22fashion house he founded in 2013. He was also a graduate of the University of
23Wisconsin–Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.
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5.
Gerard Randall—Executive Director of the Milwaukee Education
25Partnership, which aims to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in
1Milwaukee Public Schools, bring every student up to grade level standards, improve
2access to higher education opportunities, and advocate for public education. Mr.
3Randall is the Managing Partner of The Lazarus Group, which provides education
4and workforce development guidance, strategic planning, and support. He also
5serves as adjunct professor with the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in the
6Department of Education Policy and Community Studies.
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6.
Gaulien “Gee” Smith—Milwaukee barber and owner of Gee's Clippers who
8opened up a vaccination clinic in his barbershop to address vaccine hesitancy and
9racial disparities in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. Because of his
10efforts, he helped expand vaccine access to many in the greater Milwaukee
11community. Gee's Clippers is the largest Black barbershop in the state and has
12served the Milwaukee community for almost 25 years; and
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Whereas, while acknowledging the work of these leaders, it is equally critical
14to appreciate, both past and present, the long list of contributions of our fellow
15citizens; Black History Month gives Wisconsinites an occasion to recognize the
16significant influence people of African heritage have made, and continue to make, in
17the areas of medicine, art, politics, human rights, education, sports, law
18enforcement, and economic development; now, therefore, be it
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19Resolved by the
assembly, the senate concurring, That the Wisconsin
20Legislature recognizes February 2022 as Black History Month and extends
21appreciation to the above-named persons for their contributions to the state of
22Wisconsin, the country, and their fellow citizens.