This resolution formally recognizes and celebrates Black History Month 2026 , adopting the theme "A Century of Black History Commemorations." It aims to explore how the commemoration of Black history and life has transformed the status of Black people in the United States and across the diaspora. The resolution specifically seeks to honor "unsung souls," referring to Black women and men of African ancestry whose historic accomplishments have not been widely celebrated, and "righteous intercessors," individuals who took extraordinary steps to ensure liberty and justice for people of African descent. The resolution underscores that these commemorations are vital for correcting an incomplete collective narrative, affirming the foundational role of enslaved Black Americans in building the nation's prosperity. It cites historical examples such as the first "Watch Night" on December 31, 1862, the Charleston commemoration that contributed to Memorial Day, and the actions of the 25th Army Corps leading to Juneteenth. Furthermore, it acknowledges the pioneering work of scholars like Carter G. Woodson , the "father of Black History Month," and others such as George Washington Williams, Mary McLeod Bethune, W.E.B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston, and Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, who institutionalized the study and preservation of Black history. These efforts are presented as a moral imperative to counter attempts to diminish or erase Black contributions and to inspire progress toward American ideals of liberty, equality, justice, and freedom for all.