AJR95: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-4741/1

JS:kmg:cs

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Assembly JOINT RESOLUTION 95

January 13, 1998 - Introduced by Committee on Rules. Referred to Calendar.

AJR95,1,1 Relating to: celebrating the achievements of Wisconsin's African-Americans.

AJR95,1,5 Whereas, 1998 is Wisconsin's sesquicentennial year, which gives us an excellent opportunity to celebrate our many accomplishments, analyze our past shortcomings and examine our future, as we celebrate Wisconsinites of African descent; and

AJR95,1,7 Whereas, we acknowledge the proud legacy of Black men and women who have helped shape who we are as a state, as a nation and as a people; and

AJR95,1,10 Whereas, the many Black pioneers who were a "First" include Joe Oliver, the first Black person ever recorded as voting in Wisconsin in 1835, and Carolyn Quarelles, the first "Passenger" to travel the underground railroad in Wisconsin; and

AJR95,1,15 Whereas, Black persons pioneered a number of settlements in Wisconsin, including Pleasant Ridge, founded in 1849 by Charles Edward Shepard; Stantonville, named after African-American Moses Stanton (now called Chilton); and Barton Corners, named after African-American Wesley Barton (now called Burr Corners); and

AJR95,2,8 Whereas, entertainment and culture have been well represented by many Black Wisconsinites, including Professor Ephraim Williams, the state's only African-American circus impresario, from 100 years ago to the more modern days of, for example, the "1st Class Citizenship" of Mrs. Bernice Lindsay, who organized the Mary Church Terrell Club in 1933 to better Black-White relations, who worked extensively all of her life to develop the talents of Black youth and who was an active member of the Milwaukee Commission on Human Rights from its inception in 1944; and

AJR95,2,14 Whereas, Wisconsin's Black political pioneers have established a rich legacy of activism and involvement, from Lucien H. Palmer, the first Black person to be elected to the Wisconsin legislature, to Vel R. Phillips, the first Black and first woman ever elected to the statewide office of Secretary of State in Wisconsin, to Isaac Newton Coggs, an activist known as "Mr. Civil Rights", who ushered in the current era of Black state elected officials; now, therefore, be it

AJR95,2,19 Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature, on the occasion of the state's sesquicentennial, recognize the many fine accomplishments of Wisconsin's Black citizens and use this august occasion to reflect on where we were and how we have changed and to determine how we can improve to make a better society in the future; and, be it further

AJR95,2,21 Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide a copy of this joint resolution to the Wisconsin Sesquicentennial Commission.

AJR95,2,22 (End)