Bill > HR365

This resolution designates December 16, 2025, as "Charles Blockson Day" in Pennsylvania to honor Charles Leroy Blockson, a significant African American historian, collector, and cultural preservationist. Born in Norristown in 1933, Blockson was inspired to study Black history after a racially discriminatory incident in elementary school where a teacher claimed Black people had no history. Throughout his life, he became a renowned collector of African American cultural artifacts, donating over 700,000 items to Temple University's Afro-American Collection, co-founding the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum in Philadelphia, and becoming the first African American to write a cover story for National Geographic about the Underground Railroad. The resolution recognizes Blockson's substantial contributions to documenting and preserving Black history, highlighting his academic and athletic achievements, including playing football at Penn State University and being invited to play professionally, and ultimately commemorates his legacy following his passing on June 14, 2023, at the age of 89. The resolution also emphasizes the broader importance of preserving historical knowledge for future generations.

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https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hr365