Recognizing and Honoring Robert W. Bogle and The Philadelphia Tribune for the Paper's Ongoing Commitment to Reflecting the African-American Experience Through Its Coverage During Black History Month and Publishing the List of the Philadelphia Region's Most Influential African-Americans.

WHEREAS, Black History Month is celebrated during the month of February; and

WHEREAS, In February 2007,

The Philadelphia Tribune

published a special edition commemorating Black History Month entitled,

The Struggle for Educational Equality

; and

WHEREAS, The report carefully chronicles the history of the education of African-Americans from the time of being forcibly brought to North America, beginning with the arrival of twenty Africans to Jamestown, Va., in 1619; and

WHEREAS, The special edition astutely emphasized the importance of educational opportunity in ending the institution of slavery and for the progress of a people; and

WHEREAS, The special edition highlighted that during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, laws that forbade educating blacks were passed across the south, making it illegal for anyone, slave or slaveholder, to teach a slave; and

WHEREAS, Slaves who were caught learning to read or write were often beaten; and

WHEREAS, It was not until the mid-twentieth century that legal school segregation was finally overturned; and

WHEREAS, The report also chronicles many important developments in the advancement of African Americans in America including: the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863; the enactment of the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery in 1865; the enactment of the 14th Amendment recognizing African-Americans as U.S. citizens in 1868; and the ratification of the 15th Amendment outlawing the denial of the right to vote in 1870; and

WHEREAS, Writings such as

The Struggle for Educational Equality

are an important resource for reminding us of the challenges that we faced and continue to confront in America; and

WHEREAS, The

Tribune’s

publication of this special edition for Black History Month has performed an important and laudable public service for which the City should be profoundly grateful; and

WHEREAS,

The Philadelphia Tribune

in its January 7, 2007 edition, announced its list of the City’s “10 Most Influential African-Americans”; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the list of Most Influential African-Americans, the

Tribune

also published a list of “

10 People Under 40 to Watch in 2007”

and recognized 104 African-American elected officials, entrepreneurs, non-profit and civic leaders, educators, labor leaders and members of the clergy; and

WHEREAS,

Tribune

Publisher Robert W. Bogle, in speaking about the City’s most influential African-Americans said, “One cannot talk of the greatness of our City without including the contributions of African-Americans, who they are and what they do to make our City work”; and

WHEREAS,

The Philadelphia Tribune

is the nation’s oldest and the Greater Philadelphia region’s largest newspaper serving the African-American community; now therefore

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes and honors Robert W. Bogle and

The Philadelphia Tribune

for the Paper’s Special Black History Edition and the publication of the Philadelphia Region’s Most Influential African-Americans.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be prepared as a sincere expression of this body’s recognition and gratitude for Mr. Bogle and

The Philadelphia Tribune.

End