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Franklin City Council unanimously adopted a resolution Monday, Feb. 27, celebrating Black History Month.

“As you all are aware, February is Black History Month, and we wanted to make sure that, as we have done in years past, we had a resolution in honor of Black History Month,” Franklin City Manager Amanda C. Jarratt said. “And so at this point, someone can read it into the record, and once it’s read aloud, we can have a motion for approval.”

The resolution was read into the record by Ward 5 Councilwoman and Vice Mayor Wynndolyn H. Copeland:

“Whereas, Black History Month in the United States is a historic tradition beginning in 1926 when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association of Negro Life and History dedicated the second week in February as ‘Negro History Week’; and

“Whereas, in 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, Black History Week was expanded and became established as Black History Month and is now celebrated all over North America; and

“Whereas, the rich inventions, courage, resolve and cultural influences delivered to the nation by African Americans have been traditionally recognized regionally by the state of Virginia; and

“Whereas, Virginia is home to the longest continuous experience of Black life and culture in the United States spanning more than four centuries, beginning before the first English settlement at Jamestown and through the Revolutionary War, Civil War, emancipation and the civil rights eras; and

“Whereas, Nat Turner being an enslaved preacher who led a two-day rebellion, known as the Nat Turner Rebellion, of both enslaved and free people in Southampton County, Virginia, the rebellion being suppressed at Belmont Plantation on Aug. 23, 1831, and resulted in state legislatures passing new laws prohibiting education of slaves and free African Americans, restricting right of assembly and other civil liberties for free African Americans; and

“Whereas, Dred Scott, known for Dred Scott v. Sanford, was born into slavery around 1799 in

Southampton County, Virginia, in January 1850 won his freedom, the case being reversed in 1852, making Dred Scott enslaved again, after several appeals, taking the case to the United States Supreme Court, giving Dred Scott and his family freedom on May 26, 1857;

“Now, therefore, be it resolved, the city of Franklin celebrates February 2023 as Black History Month and that it calls upon all the city of Franklin’s citizens to observe this month with programs, celebrations, ceremonies and activities recognizing the amazing and everlasting efforts and accomplishments of African Americans.”

The 7-0 vote from City Council adopting the resolution immediately followed its reading.