Black History Month is an accepted national event celebrating the contributions of African American people in general and their part in the development of the United States in particular.

In 1926, historian and author Carter G. Woodson, who is known as the father of Black History study, introduced Negro History Week as a reaction to racism and to highlight the role blacks have played in the development of civilization.

Dr. Woodson introduced Negro History Week in February to have it as close as possible to the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln; since that time, Negro History Week has been expanded to encompass the entire month of February, and has also undergone a change in terminology.

Dr. Woodson and other black historians and social scientists systematically proved that African Americans played an integral part in the development of civilization; and

African Americans continue to demonstrate that the heroic deeds of exceptional men and women are inextricably woven among the actions of unknown millions of people, so that a history of humanity must include the contributions of blacks in order to be true;

Richard T. Crotty, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Orange County Mayor, do hereby proclaim the month of February 2010 as

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

in Orange County, Florida, and encourage all citizens of Orange County to join in learning about and celebrating the contributions African Americans have made to the world, to our country, and to our community.