Res. No. 725
Title
Resolution declaring February 23rd, 2003 as "W.E.B. DuBois Day" in the City of New York.
Body
By Council Members Barron, Clarke, Comrie, Felder, Foster, Jackson, Koppell, Lopez, Perkins, Seabrook, Sears, Stewart and Vann
Whereas, W.E.B. DuBois was a scholar, writer, activist and social reformer
dedicated to educating, elevating and empowering the African-American community;
and
Whereas, Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts in 1868, W.E.B. DuBois was
one of our nation's most illustrious leaders; the first African-American to graduate from
Harvard University, he was an individual of great self-determination and extraordinary
intellect whose scholarly work on the history of his people opened up and increased our
understanding of the African-American experience; and
Whereas, W.E.B. DuBois was an individual of great depth and dimension who
was deeply engaged in all aspects of our national life: he performed economic and
sociological studies for the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Agriculture;
he wrote weekly columns for many years in various newspapers including the Chicago
Defender, the Pittsburgh Courier, the New York Amsterdam News and the San
Francisco Chronicle; and
Whereas, W.E.B. DuBois was the first to take a scientific approach to
studying the social phenomena of African-Americans and their experiences in our
country, and in this respect is rightfully acknowledged as the father of Social Science;
and
Whereas, W.E.B. DuBois was a dedicated fighter and organizer against racism,
colonialism, imperialism, illiteracy, poverty and war; he inspired hundreds of novelists,
poets, playwrights, sculptors, musicians and scientists not only by his work and
example, but often by direct assistance; and
Whereas, The Suppression of the Slave Trade in America, W.E.B. DuBois's
doctoral thesis at Harvard, remains to this day the authoritative work on the subject, and
is the first volume in Harvard's Historical Series; and
Whereas, In 1905, DuBois helped found the Niagra Movement, an organization
whose objectives were to advocate for civic justice and abolish caste discrimination; the
Niagra Movement created the framework out of which evolved the National Association
of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); and
Whereas, In his twenty-five years as editor-in-chief of the Crisis magazine-the
NAACP's main organ for distributing its policy and news-DuBois helped educate and
enlighten thousands; in its pages he exposed injustices perpetrated against African-
Americans; he spoke out forcefully regarding racism and sought to reveal what he
termed 'the innards of a country whose quivering heart beat bigotry; and
Whereas, Among his many important accomplishments was organizing the first
four Pan-African Congresses, major global events aimed at bringing attention to the
problems of Africans around the world; and
Whereas, Dr. W.E.B. Dubois was a tireless advocate for the African-American
people: he delivered thousands of lectures in colleges, churches, halls and schools in
every state of our nation and in many countries around the world; his influence has
been felt across numerous social, political, educational and economic registers, and he
has left us with an important and inspiring legacy of achievement; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York declares February 23rd, 2003 as
"W.E.B. DuBois Day" in the City of New York.
WA
LS#2082
D-Res. #
2/20/03
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