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4 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROCLAMATION <br /> WHEREAS, it is essential to sustain a harmonious and inclusive society; Orange County <br /> discourages practices and actions deemed detrimental to the peace, welfare, and progress of <br /> our community; and <br /> WHEREAS, Black Americans, descendants of people forcibly taken from Africa and subjected to <br /> the brutalities of slavery, White supremacy, and family separation, have survived and overcome <br /> over 400 years of systemic oppression, creating a vibrant and dynamic legacy that is central to <br /> the cultural, economic, and political fabric of this nation; and <br /> WHEREAS, the resilience, innovation, and indomitable spirit of Black Americans have pushed <br /> this nation closer to the ideals of freedom, equality, and democracy that the Founders expressed <br /> but did not fully pursue, even as they have fought tirelessly against the enduring specter of racial <br /> injustice, oppression, violence, and discrimination; and <br /> WHEREAS, Black history is not only a celebration of winners and victories won, but also a <br /> testament to the years and lives lost in the pursuit of equity, inclusion, social justice, and liberation; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, we honor the legacy of leaders, martyrs, visionaries, and revolutionaries who <br /> sacrificed safety to defy both legal and illegal acts of oppression, from the children who led in the <br /> Children's Crusade of 1963, to the students who formed the decentralized organization of the <br /> Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), to the Freedom Riders who spent 1961 <br /> traveling cross country on buses; and <br /> WHEREAS, this year's theme of "A Century of Black History Commemorations" highlights the <br /> 100th annual celebration of Black History in the USA, highlighting the longevity and impact of Dr. <br /> Carter G. Woodson's efforts to implement the original, week-long recognition of Black History; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, do proclaim <br /> February 2026 as "BLACK HISTORY MONTH" and encourage residents to honor this <br /> distinctive month by becoming more enlightened as to the true history of Black Americans in this <br /> Country and in our community. <br /> THIS THE 3rd DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026. <br /> Jean Hamilton, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of <br /> Commissioners <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Portie-Ascott, seconded by Commissioner Greene, <br /> to approve and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />