02-05-2025

National Black History Month, 2025

ProclamationView the Original .pdf
View the Original .pdf

The 1-Minute Brief

What: This proclamation by President Donald J. Trump designates February 2025 as National Black History Month. It calls upon Americans to observe the month and recognizes the contributions of Black Americans to the nation's history and culture.

Money: This is a presidential proclamation, a ceremonial declaration, and has no direct financial cost or appropriation associated with it.

Your Impact: For the average American, the direct impact is minimal. It officially encourages the recognition and celebration of Black History Month, which may influence school curricula, public programming, and media coverage during February.

Status: Proclaimed by the President of the United States on January 31, 2025. It is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on February 5, 2025.

What's Actually in the Proclamation

This document officially designates February 2025 as National Black History Month. It is a declaration by the President that encourages national observance of the contributions of Black Americans. The text highlights specific individuals and expresses gratitude for the role of Black Americans in the nation's history.

Core Provisions:

  • Designates February 2025 as National Black History Month.
  • Calls upon "public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities."

Stated Purpose (from the Sponsors):

The stated purpose is to formally recognize and celebrate the contributions of Black Americans to the United States.

  1. To "celebrate the contributions of so many black American patriots who have indelibly shaped our Nation's history."
  2. To recognize that "black Americans have been among our country's most consequential leaders, shaping the cultural and political destiny of our Nation in profound ways."
  3. To "extend my tremendous gratitude to black Americans for all they have done to bring us to this moment, and for the many future contributions they will make."

Key Facts:

Affected Sectors: Government, Education, Cultural Institutions.
Timeline: The proclamation applies to February 2025.
Scope: Nationwide, encouraging observance by all Americans.

The Backstory: How We Got Here

Timeline of Events:

The Origins of a Celebration (1915-1976):

  • 1915: Inspired by a national celebration of the 50th anniversary of emancipation, historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson co-founds the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, ASALH).
  • 1926: Woodson and the ASALH launch "Negro History Week" during the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The initiative was widely adopted by schools and communities.
  • 1970: Black educators and students at Kent State University proposed and celebrated the first Black History Month, expanding from the original week-long observance.
  • 1976: President Gerald R. Ford becomes the first president to officially recognize Black History Month, issuing a message that urged Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans."

A Presidential Tradition (1976-Present):

  • Since 1976, every U.S. president has issued an annual proclamation or message designating February as National Black History Month. This has become a consistent, bipartisan tradition.
  • In 1986, Congress passed Public Law 99-244, which officially designated February as "National Black History Month." This law gave a congressional blessing to the annual observance.

Why Now? The Political Calculus:

  • The issuance of a proclamation for National Black History Month is a standard, expected presidential action each year.
  • The timing is dictated by the calendar month of February. The content and tone of the proclamation, however, can reflect the current political landscape. This 2025 proclamation follows reports of the administration scaling back some diversity and inclusion initiatives in federal agencies. Therefore, the proclamation serves to fulfill a traditional presidential role while framing the observance in a manner consistent with the administration's broader messaging.

Your Real-World Impact

The Direct Answer: This proclamation directly affects government agencies, public schools, and cultural institutions by officially sanctioning a month of observance, but its tangible impact on most individual Americans is indirect.

What Could Change for You:

Potential Benefits:

  • Increased Awareness: You may see more educational programs, museum exhibits, and media content focused on Black history throughout February, providing opportunities for learning.
  • Community Events: Your local schools, libraries, and community centers may be prompted to host events, ceremonies, or discussions related to Black History Month.
  • National Dialogue: The proclamation contributes to a nationwide focus on the history and contributions of Black Americans, potentially fostering broader conversations about race and history.

Possible Disruptions or Costs:

Short-term (February 2025):

  • There are no direct costs or disruptions for the general public associated with this ceremonial proclamation.

Long-term:

  • This proclamation itself carries no long-term costs. It is part of an ongoing annual tradition.

Who's Most Affected:

Primary Groups: Federal employees, public school educators and students, and librarians who are called upon to implement observances.
Secondary Groups: The general public, who may encounter more content and programming related to Black history.
Regional Impact: The impact is national, with local observances varying by community.

Bottom Line: This proclamation confirms the official, national recognition of Black History Month, encouraging activities that increase public awareness but not mandating any specific action from citizens.

Where the Parties Stand

Republican Position: "Honoring Contributions to American Greatness"

Core Stance: Generally supportive of the tradition of recognizing Black History Month and the contributions of Black Americans to the nation's history.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Praises the historical achievements of specific Black American figures like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and contemporary conservative leaders like Justice Clarence Thomas and Thomas Sowell.
  • ✓ Emphasizes patriotism and the role of Black Americans in advancing "equality under the law."
  • ⚠️ The proclamation's focus is on individual achievement and patriotism, while omitting specific mentions of slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, or systemic injustice, which differs from some past proclamations.

Legislative Strategy: As this is a presidential action, the legislative strategy is not directly applicable. The administration's strategy is to fulfill the ceremonial duty of issuing the proclamation while tailoring the message to its political philosophy.

Democratic Position: "A More Complete History"

Core Stance: Strongly supportive of Black History Month as a crucial time to celebrate contributions and confront the ongoing struggle for racial justice.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ Supports the official recognition and celebration of Black History Month.
  • ⚠️ Likely to criticize the omission of key historical context, such as the fight against slavery, segregation, and systemic racism, which are often central to their proclamations.
  • ✗ Would likely oppose the exclusion of topics like voting rights, racial equity initiatives, and the broader social justice aspects of Black history, which are typically highlighted in their messaging.

Legislative Strategy: The political opposition's strategy is to issue statements, draw contrasts with their own approach to the observance, and highlight what they view as omissions in the President's proclamation, thereby using it as a fundraising and mobilization opportunity.

Constitutional Check

The Verdict: ✓ Constitutional

Basis of Authority:

Presidential proclamations are not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution but are considered an inherent aspect of the President's executive power derived from Article II. Specifically, the President's role as head of state and the duty to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed" provide the implicit authority for such ceremonial and policy declarations.

Relevant Portion of the Constitution (Article II, Section 1): "[The] executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America."
Relevant Portion of the Constitution (Article II, Section 3): "[The President] shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed..."

Constitutional Implications:

[Executive Power]: The proclamation aligns with the long-standing practice of presidents issuing ceremonial declarations. These proclamations generally do not have the force of law unless they are based on a specific grant of authority from Congress.
[Precedent]: Every U.S. President since Gerald Ford in 1976 has issued a proclamation or message for Black History Month, establishing a strong historical precedent for this type of executive action.
[Federalism]: The proclamation does not overstep into powers reserved for the states. It "calls upon" public officials and citizens to observe the month, but does not mandate action, thus respecting the federal-state balance.

Potential Legal Challenges:

There are no viable legal challenges to this proclamation. It is a ceremonial document and does not create, repeal, or modify any law. Its authority is well-established by precedent and is not legally binding on private citizens or state governments.

Your Action Options

TO SUPPORT THIS PROCLAMATION'S SENTIMENT

5-Minute Actions:

  • Share on Social Media: Post the proclamation or a supportive message on your social media accounts to encourage your network to participate in Black History Month.
  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I'm glad to see the President recognize February as National Black History Month. I hope [Rep./Sen. Name] will help promote its observance."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Participate in Local Events: Look up events at your local library, community center, or museums and plan to attend.
  • Write a Letter to the Editor: Submit a letter to your local newspaper thanking the President and encouraging fellow community members to use the month as a time for education and reflection.

TO OPPOSE THIS PROCLAMATION'S SENTIMENT OR TONE

5-Minute Actions:

  • Share a Critical View: Post a message on social media explaining why you believe the proclamation's tone or content is inadequate, perhaps pointing to its omissions compared to previous years.
  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I'm calling to express my disappointment with the President's proclamation for Black History Month. I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to issue a more comprehensive statement recognizing the full scope of Black history."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Support Advocacy Groups: Donate to or volunteer with organizations that you feel offer a more complete picture of Black history and the ongoing fight for civil rights.
  • Write a Letter to the Editor: Submit a letter to your local newspaper outlining your specific criticisms of the proclamation's message and what you believe a more appropriate recognition would include.