FILE NUMBER........

Whereas, African-American History Month will be celebrated in

Nevada throughout the month of February; and

Whereas, During this month, Nevadans will have an opportunity to

become aware of the influence of African-Americans on the history of

Nevada; and

Whereas, Although African-Americans have made significant

contributions to the development of the State of Nevada, little significant

study has been accomplished in the area of western African-American

history, especially in Nevada; and

Whereas, When the West was first settled, African-Americans,

although legally free and legally citizens, were nevertheless effectively

disenfranchised throughout many states and subjected to various types of

discrimination and segregation, legal and extralegal, throughout most of the

other states; and

Whereas, The small but active population of African-American settlers

in northern Nevada included Benjamin Palmer, who purchased his freedom

from slavery and moved to the Carson Valley where he became a

successful cattle rancher on his 400 acres, and James P. Beckwourth, who

operated a ranch in the Sierra Valley and after whom a mountain pass north

of Reno is named; and

Whereas, In southern Nevada, Lorenzo and Dow Barton, two brothers

who settled in Caliente in 1857, were responsible for the early development

of this town; and

Whereas, African-Americans in this state have a long and active

history of protesting against racial prejudice and social injustice through

writing, community organization and oration and have had among their

leaders people such as the Reverend Bill Stevens of Las Vegas, who, in the

1940’s went daily to restaurants that discriminated against African-

Americans to attempt to order a meal or a cup of coffee, and Alice Smith,

who founded the Reno-Sparks branch of the NAACP in 1945 and

organized many religious and community activities throughout her life; and

Whereas, History has demonstrated that the African-American

residents of Nevada have maintained a solid social, religious and cultural

identity while aggressively asserting rights to legal and educational

equality; and

Whereas, While there continues to be a need to acknowledge the

importance of minorities in both the history and future of this state, our

recognition and observance of African-American History Month is a step in

that direction; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the Assembly

Concurring, That the month of February is hereby designated African-

American History Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the residents of this state are encouraged to join in this

observance and celebration of the history of African-Americans in the

United States and especially in the State of Nevada.

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