Yesterday, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II and I kicked off the month by issuing a proclamation recognizing February as Black History Month. This month, we celebrate the immeasurable contributions Black Americans have made to our history, culture, and economy, all of which have helped us build a brighter future for Michigan and our nation.
Black history is American history, and we must recommit ourselves to learning from our past to build a better future. Our state has played host to so much Black history and culture, driven by countless Black Michiganders who moved our nation closer to its highest ideals and left lasting legacies on our society. From civil rights icons and Motown legends to policymakers and action-takers like Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, House Speaker Joe Tate, and Senator Sarah Anthony, the first Black female Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Michigan is stronger because of Black Michiganders.
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This February, I encourage everyone to come together to celebrate Black Americans and Black history. Michigan is home to several sites and artifacts that showcase Black history in our local communities, such as the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in downtown Detroit, the Rosa Parks Bus at the Henry Ford Museum, and the Motown Museum. This month let’s pay special recognition to the invaluable contributions of Black Americans to our state and nation, and let’s celebrate Black history as we continue building a more just and equitable Michigan where anyone can make it.
Black History Month is also a time to reflect upon our continued commitment to freedom, progress, and equity in our communities. Together, let’s build a more equitable and representative Michigan where every person has a path to opportunity.
To view the proclamation, click here
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Since day one, Lt. Governor Gilchrist and I have made it a priority to amplify Black voices and instill real and lasting change.
In 2020, I created the Black Leadership Advisory Council (BLAC) to identify barriers in the Black community in education, community safety, health, and business leadership. Since then, BLAC has served as an instrumental tool as we work to close racial equity gaps and enact policies to build a more inclusive Michigan, like the CROWN Act I signed last June to ban hair discrimination.
I am committed to building a state government that represents Michigan. That applies to the 240+ boards and commissions that serve the state. As governor, I have appointed more than 535 Black Michiganders to boards, commissions, and full-time positions, and 29, or one-third, of my judicial appointees are Black, including the first Black woman on the Michigan Supreme Court.
If you are interested in making your voice heard by contributing to a state board or commission, review our current Appointments Openings and apply at www.michigan.gov/appointments.
I encourage all Michiganders to bring their talent and perspective to state government and apply for an appointment to a statewide board or commission.
Sincerely,
 Gretchen Whitmer
Governor
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