Whereas the theme of Black History Month for 2017 is The Crisis in Black Education , which aims to further the dialogue on the critical role education plays in the advancement of the African-American community; Whereas the first Africans were brought involuntarily to the shores of the Americas as early as the 17th century; Whereas these Africans in America and their descendants are now known as African-Americans; Whereas African-Americans suffered enslavement and subsequently faced the injustices of lynch mobs, segregation, and denial of basic, fundamental rights; Whereas despite slavery, African-Americans in all walks of life have made significant contributions throughout the history of the United States, including through the— (1) writings of Booker T. Washington, Phyllis Wheatley, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Ralph Ellison, Zora Neale Hurston, and Alex Haley; (2) music of Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Bessie Smith, and Duke Ellington; (3) resolve of athletes such as Jackie Robinson, Althea Gibson, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, and Muhammad Ali; (4) scientific advancements of George Washington Carver, Charles Drew, Benjamin Banneker, and Mae Jemison; (5) vision of leaders such as Frederick Douglass, Mary McLeod Bethune, Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Shirley Chisholm; and (6) bravery of those who stood on the front lines in the battle against oppression, such as Sojourner Truth, Fannie Lou Hammer, and Rosa Parks; Whereas in the face of injustices, United States citizens of good will and of all races distinguished themselves with their commitment to the noble ideas upon which the United States was founded and courageously fought for the rights and freedom of African-Americans; Whereas Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., lived and died to make real these noble ideas; Whereas a memorial commemorating the life and ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was placed on the National Mall for all people to observe his leadership in the struggle for freedom and truth