On January 31st, the Governor issued Proclamation 23-003 declaring February 2023 as Black History Month in Vermont. The Proclamation notes that “the Black community was a central and necessary force that drove many of the civil liberties and social values that Americans hold so dear today, and their immeasurable contributions to the nation’s legal and cultural landscape have conferred innumerable benefits on all people in the United States for generations to come.”
The Proclamation further states that “the Black community in Vermont continues to embody these values through the work of individuals and organizations who have contributed to the social, economic, and political vibrancy of Vermont. Whether seen or unseen, these efforts have led to positive gains for all Vermonters and have moved the state further in its journey towards social justice.”
We lift up these excerpts, but the whole document is important to read because it reminds us that so much of what propelled this country forward came from the struggle for Black liberation, which has not yet been achieved. We strive to reach it, but it requires everybody—yes, even you. Especially you.
The full Proclamation is available here.
