LAFAYETTE—On Monday, LaFayette Mayor Kenneth Vines read a proclamation on behalf of the council in observance of Black History Month.
“The city of LaFayette has long recognized Black History Month, and it is my honor to read this proclamation,” said Vines in his opening remarks.
“Black History Month is an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the vast contributions of Black Americans. We recognize that Black history is a central part of American history.”
He continued, “A proud historian and scholar, Carl G. Wilson, founded Negro History Week in 1926. In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized the entire month of February as Black History Month. February was chosen because it includes the birthdays of American President Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and abolitionist Frederick Douglass on February 14.”
On January 31, 2023, President Biden proclaimed February as National Black History Month. Vines urged everyone to remember the men and women who have tirelessly fought for freedom, civil rights, and equality for all people, and to take this opportunity to acknowledge the centuries of struggle for equality and freedom.
“Now therefore, by the authority vested in me as the mayor of the city of LaFayette, and with the support of the city council, I hereby proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month in the city of LaFayette, Alabama,” Vines concluded.
Afterward, the council voted unanimously to approve the proclamation.
