House Resolution 25

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE GREATER TURNER CHAPEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH UPON THE OCCASION OF ITS ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM AND RECOGNIZING AND GIVING TRIBUTE TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHURCHES INVOLVED IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND FOR SIGNIFICANT STRIDES MADE TO ADVANCE SOCIAL EQUALITY FOR ALL.

WHEREAS, Sunday, February 23, 2014, marks Greater Turner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church's Black History Month, or National African American History Month annual celebration in recognition of achievements by Black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in United States' history; and

WHEREAS, having grown out of Negro History Week, the brainchild orchestrated in 1926 by noted historian Carter G. Woodson and the prominent minister Jesse E. Moorland, who founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), known today as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), an organization dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by black Americans and other people of African descent; and

WHEREAS, choosing the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, national Negro History Week inspired schools and communities nationwide to organize local celebrations, establish history clubs and host performances and lectures; and

WHEREAS, by the late 1960s, due in large part to the Civil Rights Movement and a growing awareness of Black identity, Negro History Week had evolved into Black History Month on many college campuses; and

WHEREAS, beginning in 1976 with President Gerald R. Ford officially recognizing Black History Month, calling upon the public to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history," and every succeeding United States President has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme; and

WHEREAS, in a concerted effort of religious faith and community engagement, the minister and congregation of Greater Turner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church has endeavored to pay tribute to the sacrificial spiritual and civic devotion of several churches of African-American affiliation to their contribution to the Civil Rights Movement, including: Wesley United Methodist Church, Jennings Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and East Percy Street Church; and

WHEREAS, Greater Turner Chapel, Wesley, Jennings Temple and East Percy Street Churches were instrumental sanctuaries of refuge, spiritual reinforcement and encouragement to those engaged in the daily struggles to advance social and civil equality during the Civil Rights Movement, serving as rallying centers for many individual civil rights leaders and the countless Freedom Riders; and

WHEREAS, Jennings Temple opened its doors to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., immediately prior to his assassination at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968; and

WHEREAS, because of the intestinal fortitude exhibited by these congregations and their spiritual shepherds at a time in American history when the adversities of injustice were prevalent themes of oppression, social and civic reform were birth to provide equality for all humankind; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend such paramount centers of spiritual refuge as those named herein, which selflessly subjected themselves and their congregants to personal ridicule and torment for the greater good of advancing the status of the African-American race:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Greater Turner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church upon the occasion of its annual Black History Program and recognize and give tribute to African-American churches involved in the Civil Rights Movement and for significant strides made to advance social equality for all.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Greater Turner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Wesley United Methodist Church, Jennings Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, East Percy Street Church and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.