Recognizing the African American spiritual as a national treasure.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Declares that the House of Representatives: (1) recognizes that African American spirituals are a poignant and powerful genre of music that have become one of the most significant segments of American music in existence; (2) expresses the deepest gratitude, recognition, and honor to the former enslaved Africans in the United States for their gifts to our nation, including their original music and oral history; and (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation that reflects on the important contribution of African American spirituals to American history, and naming the African American spiritual a national treasure.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov