PRINTER'S NO. 3754
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
870
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS, BIZZARRO, KORTZ, BURNS, McCLINTON,
FREEMAN, KIM, MURT, ULLMAN, HANBIDGE, HILL-EVANS, WHEATLEY,
ROTHMAN, DONATUCCI, A. DAVIS, MILLARD, SCHLOSSBERG, HOWARD,
KIRKLAND, GAINEY, NEILSON, O'MARA, KINSEY, YOUNGBLOOD,
ROEBUCK, BULLOCK AND CONKLIN, MAY 13, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 13, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the week of September 20 through 26, 2020, as
"Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Historically, African-American individuals took
great risks and sacrificed much to establish a safe learning
environment to achieve significant advancements across the
United States; and
WHEREAS, Since the early 1800s, historically black colleges
and universities (HBCUs) were established to serve the
educational needs of African Americans; and
WHEREAS, HBCUs created supportive and empowering educational
environments for young people from diverse backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, Today, there are more than 100 HBCUs in the United
States, including public and private institutions and
professional schools of law and medicine; and
WHEREAS, At a time when many schools barred their doors to
African Americans, HBCUs offered the best, and often the only,
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
opportunity for a higher education; and
WHEREAS, HBCUs have continued to be a vital resource in the
nation's educational system and have made countless
accomplishments to the advancement of their students and the
nation at large; and
WHEREAS, For generations, spanning more than 180 years, HBCUs
have contributed to the growth of African-American individuals
in the areas of academia, technology, business, law and
government; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is home to two HBCUs, Cheyney
University of Pennsylvania and Lincoln University; and
WHEREAS, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, founded by
Richard Humphreys in 1837, is the oldest of the HBCUs in the
country; and
WHEREAS, Lincoln University was founded in 1854 by John
Miller Dickey and his wife, Sarah Emlen Cresson; and
WHEREAS, These institutions have a mission to uphold their
tradition of academic excellence as they strive to maintain
their commitment to provide an education for students of diverse
backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, "Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week"
is a source of accomplishment and great pride for the African-
American community as well as the entire nation; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
week of September 20 through 26, 2020, as "Historically Black
Colleges and Universities Week" in Pennsylvania.
20200HR0870PN3754 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26