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Senate adopts SCR 21 declaring February Black History Month; legislators deliver tributes and introduce "Unsung Heroes"
Summary
The Senate unanimously adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 21 recognizing February as Black History Month. Multiple senators spoke in support, and the California Legislative Black Caucus presented its 2025 Unsung Heroes list.
The California State Senate adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 21 (SCR 21) recognizing February as Black History Month by a unanimous roll-call vote of 37-0.
Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas introduced the resolution on behalf of the Legislative Black Caucus and framed the observance as “a call to action,” urging lawmakers to address systemic inequalities affecting Black Californians. She cited statistical disparities discussed on the floor and said the month should be a moment to convert commemoration into policy that expands economic opportunity and education.
Colleagues from across the aisle and several caucuses spoke in support. Senator Dr. Weber Pearson, chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, co-authored the resolution and used the occasion to introduce the caucus’s 2025 unsung heroes — community leaders and nonprofit figures the caucus said have made sustained local contributions. The group of honorees included civil-rights activists, educators, and nonprofit leaders; several honorees were introduced individually from the Senate floor and later invited for a group photo.
Other senators spoke to specific themes raised by the resolution: health inequities and the role of Black medical pioneers (Senator Dr. Weber Pearson), historical partnerships between Black and Jewish communities (Senator Weiner), the influence of Black activism on other civil-rights movements (multiple members), and local Black History Month events in districts (Senator Groff). Several senators highlighted individual historic figures — Frederick Douglass, A. Philip Randolph, Shirley Chisholm, Charles Drew — to underscore the resolution’s purpose.
The resolution was called for a vote after floor discussion; the secretary recorded 37 ayes and 0 no votes and the resolution was adopted. Following adoption, the Senate paused its calendar for the Black Caucus’s honoree introductions and a group photograph.
