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3 <br /> 1 <br /> 2 WHEREAS, Black Americans, descendants of people forcibly taken from Africa and subjected to <br /> 3 the brutalities of slavery, White supremacy, and family separation, have survived and overcome <br /> 4 over 400 years of systemic oppression, creating a vibrant and dynamic legacy that is central to <br /> 5 the cultural, economic, and political fabric of this nation; and <br /> 6 <br /> 7 WHEREAS, the resilience, innovation, and indomitable spirit of Black Americans have pushed <br /> 8 this nation closer to the ideals of freedom, equality, and democracy that the Founders expressed <br /> 9 but did not fully pursue, even as they have fought tirelessly against the enduring specter of racial <br /> 10 injustice, oppression, violence, and discrimination; and <br /> 11 <br /> 12 WHEREAS, Black history is not only a celebration of victories won but also a testament to the <br /> 13 years and lives lost in the pursuit of equity, inclusion, social justice, and liberation; and <br /> 14 <br /> 15 WHEREAS, we honor the legacy of leaders, martyrs, visionaries, and revolutionaries who <br /> 16 sacrificed safety to defy both legal and illegal acts of oppression, and recognize the current <br /> 17 generation of leaders who continue to dismantle barriers, uplift communities and pursue justice; <br /> 18 and <br /> 19 <br /> 20 WHEREAS, Orange County, recognizing it is home to numerous unmarked cemeteries for <br /> 21 enslaved people, will soon be adding a commemorative headstone collectively marking at least <br /> 22 34 individual graves at Blackwood Farms, honoring the lives and legacy of those whose labor and <br /> 23 sacrifice were foundational to the history of Orange County; and <br /> 24 <br /> 25 WHEREAS, this year's theme of"African Americans and Labor" highlights the vital economic role <br /> 26 Black Americans have played in the development of the United States, acknowledging that Black <br /> 27 work — both free and forced — has been critical to the nation's infrastructure, industries, and <br /> 28 cultural identity, while also underscoring the need for fair labor practices, equitable wages and <br /> 29 hiring policies, along with workplace justice that continues today; <br /> 30 <br /> 31 NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, do proclaim <br /> 32 February 2025 as "BLACK HISTORY MONTH" and encourage residents to honor this <br /> 33 distinctive month by becoming more enlightened as to the true history of Black Americans in this <br /> 34 Country and in our community. <br /> 35 <br /> 36 <br /> 37 THIS THE 4t" DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025. <br /> 38 <br /> 39 <br /> 40 Jamezetta Bedford, Chair <br /> 41 Orange County Board of <br /> 42 Commissioners <br /> 43 <br /> 44 A motion was made by Vice-Chair Hamilton, seconded by Commissioner Portie-Ascott, to <br /> 45 approve the proclamation. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 48 <br /> 49 <br /> 50 <br />