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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO BE KNOWN AS "THE 1696

HISTORICAL COMMISSION" OF RHODE ISLAND AND THE UNITED STATES

     Introduced By: Representatives Almeida, Williams, Diaz, Shekarchi, and Abney

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2014

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island holds a unique place in history with the establishment of its

Royal Charter in July 1663, that marked the first time that a sovereign leader signed a charter

guaranteeing that individuals within a society were free to practice the religion of their choice

without any interference from the government; and

     WHEREAS, This progressive act during the early settlement of the Colony of Rhode

Island would attract from across the world all manner of religious, ethnic and racial groups to

Rhode Island shores bringing with them their expertise in maritime trade and commerce; and

     WHEREAS, By the 18th century Rhode Island was one of Colonial America's leading

maritime centers; and

     WHEREAS, As Rhode Island became the first American Colony to declare its

independence from Great Britain on May 4, 1776, it was also at the same time in history one of

the largest African trade and importation centers; and

     WHEREAS, The earliest history and people of Rhode Island has included persons of

African heritage who, even though they arrived as chattel property, would soon rise up to

establish many of America's earliest African American civic, religious, cultural and educational

enterprises; and

     WHEREAS, The history of the African slave trade, the early arrival of persons of African

heritage to the state, and the triumphs of African-Americans and their significant contributions to

the development of this state and country is the proper concern of all people, particularly students

enrolled in the schools of the State of Rhode Island; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission, to be known as "The 1696 Historical

Commission," so named in honor of the first documented group of enslaved Africans to arrive in

Rhode Island at Newport in 1696 on the brig Seaflower, be and the same is hereby created

consisting of fifteen (15) members: one of whom shall be the Secretary of State, or designee; one

of whom shall be the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage

Commission, or designee; and twelve (12) of whom shall be public members, four (4) of whom

shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, four (4) of whom shall be appointed by the

Speaker of the House, and four (4) of whom shall be appointed by the Governor.

     The public members shall be residents of this state, chosen with due regard to broad

geographic representation and ethnic diversity, who have an interest in the history of Rhode

Island, the African slave trade and slavery in Rhode Island and America and the contributions of

African-Americans to our society. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in the same

manner as the original appointment.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to develop a comprehensive African American

history curriculum for all K-12 public schools in Rhode Island. Said curriculum should include,

but not be limited to, the history of persons of African heritage, including the history of African

peoples before the political conflicts that led to the development of slavery, the passage to

America and Rhode Island, the enslavement experience in America and Rhode Island, abolition,

and the contributions of Africans to America and Rhode Island.

     The commission shall develop, in consultation with the Department of Education,

curriculum guidelines for the teaching of information on the African slave trade, slavery in

America and Rhode Island, the vestiges of slavery in this country and state, and the contributions

of African-Americans to our country and state.

     The commission shall make recommendations on facilitating the inclusion of the history

of persons of African heritage, including the history of African peoples before the political

conflicts that led to the development of slavery, the passage to America and Rhode Island, the

enslavement experience in Rhode Island and America, abolition, and the contributions of African

Americans to Rhode Island and America and any related special programs in the educational

system of the state, with the goal of funding and implementing such curriculum for the start of the

September, 2016 K-12 public school year.

     Every local board of education is requested to incorporate the information developed by

the commission in an appropriate place in the curriculum of elementary and secondary school

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students in the state; and

     On facilitating the inclusion of the history of persons of African heritage, including the

history of African peoples before the political conflicts that led to the development of slavery, the

passage to America and Rhode Island, the enslavement experience in Rhode Island and America,

abolition, and the contributions of African-Americans to Rhode Island and America and any

related special programs in the educational system of the state, with the goal of funding and

implementing such curriculum for the start of the September, 2016 K-12 public school year.

     The Secretary of State, or designee, shall serve as the chair and the Commissioner of

Education, or designee, shall serve as the vice-chair of the commission. The presence of a

majority of the authorized membership of the commission shall be required for the conduct of

official business.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     The Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission and Rhode Island

Department of Education shall provide staff support for the Commission.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The commission is authorized to prepare all reports by January 1, 2015 for the Governor

and the Legislature regarding its findings and recommendations on facilitating the inclusion of

the history of persons of African heritage, including the history of African peoples before the

political conflicts that led to the development of slavery, the passage to America and Rhode

Island, the enslavement experience in Rhode Island and America, abolition, and the contributions

of African-Americans to Rhode Island and America and any related special programs in the

educational system of the State, with the goal of funding and implementing such curriculum for

the start of the September, 2016 K-12 public school year.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

General Assembly and the Governor no later than January 6, 2015, and said commission shall

expire on February 15, 2015.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO BE KNOWN AS "THE 1696

HISTORICAL COMMISSION" OF RHODE ISLAND AND THE UNITED STATES

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     This resolution would create a fifteen (15) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to develop curriculum guidelines for the teaching of information on

the African slave trade, slavery in America and Rhode Island, the vestiges of slavery in this

country and state, and the contributions of African-Americans to our country and state, and who

would report back to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than January 6, 2015, and

whose life would expire on February 15, 2015.

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