On the same day the Biden-Harris administration released a fact sheet detailing its policies and initiatives that have directly benefited Black people, it hosted a Black History Month reception at the White House celebrating the achievements of Black Americans.
According to Live 5 News, the White House also issued a proclamation, that reads in part, “While we still grapple today with the moral stain and vestiges of slavery—our country’s original sin—we have never walked away from the fight to fully realize the promise of America for all Americans. Throughout our history, Black Americans have never given up on the promise of America.”
The proclamation continued, “Unbowed by the forces of hate and undaunted as they fought
for centuries against slavery, segregation, and injustice, Black Americans have held a mirror up to our Nation, allowing our country to confront hard truths about who we are and pushing us to live up to our founding ideals. They have helped redeem the soul of our Nation, ensuring the promises in our founding documents were not just words on a page but a lived reality for all people. In the process, the vibrancy of Black history and culture has enriched every aspect of American life.”The announcement also credits Vice-President Kamala Harris with taking the lead on the administration’s push to improve the maternal mortality of Black women and childbearing people and enumerates other healthcare-related initiatives.
“We are addressing historic health inequities for Black Americans by making systemic changes to our healthcare systems that increase healthcare access while lowering costs. Today, more Black Americans have health insurance than at any previous time in American history. We are working to address the Black maternal health crisis—ensuring dignity, safety, and support for Black moms. The Vice President has helped elevate this critical issue to a national priority by calling on states to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage from two months to one year.”
It ended with a symbolic proclamation that February is National Black History Month. President Biden also called on public officials, educators, and librarians, along with the nation in general, to observe the month via programs, ceremonies, and activities celebrating the achievements of Black Americans.
The theme of the 2024 National Black History Month is African Americans and
the Arts, as the Association for the Study of African American Life And History, the official organizer for National Black History Month, has acknowledged. Black History Month began as Black History Week, established in the second week of February by historian and educator Carter G. Woodson because it aligned with Abraham Lincoln’s birthday as well as the chosen date of Frederick Douglass’ birthday.