奥巴马总统2012年非洲裔美国音乐欣赏月公告（中英对照）

African-American Music Appreciation Month, 2012<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

2012年非洲裔美国音乐欣赏月

By the President of the United States of America

美利坚合众国总统

A Proclamation

公告

June 1, 2012

2012年6月1日

As a long-cherished piece of American culture, music offers a vibrant soundtrack to the story of our people and our Union. At times when words alone could not bring us together, we have found in melodies and choruses the universal truths of our shared humanity. African-American musicians have left an indelible mark on this tradition, and during African-American Music Appreciation Month, we pay special tribute to their extraordinary contributions.

音乐作为美国一种长期受到珍视的文化，以动人的旋律再现了我国人民和我们合众国的历程。当仅凭语言不能使我们汇集起来时，我们则在旋律和欢唱中寻觅到我们人类共同的普世真理。非洲裔美国音乐家们为这一传统留下了不可磨灭的影响，时值非洲裔美国音乐欣赏月，我们向他们所作出的卓越贡献致以特别的敬意。

Generations of African Americans have used music to share joy and pain, triumph and sorrow. Spiritual hymns gave hope to those laboring under the unrelenting cruelty of slavery, while gospel-inspired freedom songs sustained a movement for justice and equality for all. The smooth sounds of jazz and the soulful strain of the blues fed a renaissance in art and prose. The rhythm and blues that began in a basement in Detroit brought people together when laws would have kept them apart, while the urban beats and young wordsmiths from cities coast-to-coast gave voice to a new generation. And on stages and in concert halls around the world, African-American singers and composers have enhanced opera, symphony, and classical music by bringing energy and creativity to traditional genres.

几代非洲裔美国人通过音乐来表达欢乐与痛苦、喜悦与悲伤。灵歌为那些在残酷无情的奴隶制下苦苦劳作的人们带来希望，而受福音音乐感染的自由之歌则为争取所有人的正义与平等的运动推波助澜。爵士乐的优雅旋律与蓝调的真切情愫，为文学艺术带来复兴。在法律将人们分隔开来的时代，在底特律一个地下室里响起的节奏布鲁斯使人们汇聚在一起；东西两岸城市里的快节奏音乐和年轻人的说唱乐，为新一代人带来了自己的声音。在世界各地的舞台上和音乐厅里，非洲裔美国歌唱家和作曲家为传统风格带来活力和创意，使歌剧、交响乐和古典乐更上一层楼。

At its core, African-American music mirrors the narrative of its original creators -- born of humble beginnings and raised to refuse the limitations and circumstances of its birth. This month, we honor the African-American musicians, composers, singers, and songwriters who have forever shaped our musical heritage, and celebrate those who carry this rich legacy forward.

归根结底，非洲裔美国音乐再现了其初创者的历程，他们出身贫寒，但后来靠自我奋斗超越了与生俱来的局限性。本月内，我们颂扬非洲裔美国音乐家、作曲家、歌唱家和作词家，他们对我们的音乐传统产生了永久影响，我们还要表彰那些继续弘扬这一丰富传统的人们。

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2012 as African-American Music Appreciation Month. I call upon public officials, educators, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate activities and programs that raise awareness and foster appreciation of music that is composed, arranged, or performed by African Americans.

为此，我，美利坚合众国总统巴拉克·欧巴马，以美国宪法和法律赋予我的权力，特此宣布2012年6月为非洲裔美国音乐欣赏月。我呼吁公职官员、教育工作者以及全体美国人民欢庆此月，参与有关活动和计划，增强意识并提高对非洲裔美国人作曲、谱曲或演奏的音乐的鉴赏力。

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

我谨于公元2012年，即美利坚合众国独立第236年之6月1日，在此亲笔签名为证。

BARACK OBAMA

巴拉克·欧巴马