HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-05 Proclamation+ r
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CITY Ok IOWA CITY
www.icgov.org
February 5, 2019
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Black History Month Proclamation
Item Number: 2.a.
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PROCLAMATION
I Whereas, since 1976, February has been designated as a month to celebrate the rich legacy of Black
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Americans and their many Lai
contributions to this country; and
li Whereas, the City Council of Iowa City has identified advancement of social justice and racial equity
as one of the pillars of the City's Strategic Plan, and the City Council is committed to improving racial
equity within City government and throughout our city as a whole; and
Whereas, although more remains to be done, this commitment is currently being demonstrated
through efforts such as the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grants Program, the City Manager's
Roundtable, the Equity Report, the use of Racial Equity Toolkits, and diversification of the City's
workforce; and
Whereas, this commitment extends to celebrating the important roles that Black leaders, educators,
and social justice pioneers such as Frederick "Duke" Slater, Phillip G. Hubbard, Helen Lemme, and
Elizabeth "Betty" Tate, as well as Historic Landmarks such as Tate Arms and the Iowa Federation
Home,have played in Iowa City's history and culture and
Whereas, approximately 50 people,including roughly 25 black youth and two members of this City
Council,participated in a 9-day Civil Rights Tour conducted last June by Henri Harper with the
assistance of TeamCan and Teamsters Local 728. This enlightening and inspirational tour involved
visiting Historically Black Colleges and Universities,museums, and sites of events that have been
important parts of black and American history. The tour enabled participants to learn about important
black educators and leaders such as Booker T. Washington,W. E. B. Dubois, Rosa Parks,Martin Luther
King Jr., and many others whose names were less familiar. The tour also included visits to the Slave
Haven Underground Museum, Stax Museum of Music, and Lorraine Hotel/National Civil Rights
Museum in Memphis;the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma;the 16th Street Baptist Church,the
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham; the Rosa Parks Museum,the
Dexter Avenue Parsonage,the Southern Poverty Law Center's Civil Rights Museum, and the Legacy
Museum in Montgomery; and the Ebenezer Baptist Church and the King Center in Atlanta; and
Whereas,the Civil Rights Tour vividly revealed that black history is important in its own right,but,
for those participants who were not black, the tour also revealed that black history is part of our history;
and
Whereas, the City of Iowa City has joined with the Iowa City Community School District, Iowa City
Police Department, FilmScene, the Beloved Community Initiative, and others to invite Dr. Jeanette
Epps, a Black astronaut, to visit Iowa City on February 22 and to participate in a showing of"Hidden
Figures" and in discussions with students and community members.
Now, Therefore, I,James A. Throgmorton,Mayor of Iowa City, do hereby proclaim the month of
February 2019 to e.
x BLACK HISTORY MONTH `
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S, iSigned in Iowa City, Iowa,
,ai; this 5th day of February 2019. F+ro5,
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`\\\ City of Iowa City
PROCLAMATION
Where l s, since 1976, February has been designated as a month to - irate the rich
legacy of C ack Americans and their many contributions to this coun..., and
Whereas, th; City Council of Iowa City has identified adv. i ement of social justice
and racial equity s one of the pillars of the City's Strategic P. and
Whereas, the Cou . it is committed to improving me..I equity within City government
and throughout our ci .s a whole; and
Whereas, although mo - remains to be do' e, this commitment is currently being
demonstrated through effo such as the :ocial Justice and Racial Equity Grants
Program, the City Manager's ' oundtable, e Equity Report, the use of Racial Equity
Toolkits, and diversification of th- City's - orkforce; and
Whereas, this commitment exte s to celebrating the important roles that Black
leaders, educators, and social justi - p.sneers — such as Frederick "Duke" Slater, Phillip
G. Hubbard, Helen Lemme, an. lizab-th "Betty" Tate — have played in Iowa City's
history and culture; and
Whereas, black history i- important in its o n right, but we Iowa Citians who are not
black have an opportunit to recognize that Mac'. history is part of our history, and
thereby to help us co-i .gine and co-construct a ture that will be good for all of us; and
Whereas, the Ci of Iowa City has joined wi ' the Iowa City Community School
District, Iowa Cit, Police Department, FilmScene, t e Beloved Community Initiative,
and others to inv. e Dr. Jeanette Epps, a Black astrona t, to visit Iowa City on February
22 and to parti• pate in a showing of"Hidden Figures" . d in discussions with students
and communi members.
Now, T •refore, I, James A. Throgmorton, Mayor of Io 'a City, do hereby proclaim
the mon of February 2019 to be
BLACK HISTORY MON
Mayor
Signed in Iowa City, Iowa,
this 5th day of February 2019.