It’s a holiday that a lot of folks don’t know much about, and that’s really sad. It’s not on too many commercial calendars, in fact I’m looking at my *NSYNC calendar now and there isn’t a mention of it at all in today’s box. We have other international holidays mentioned all through it, but not one mention of one of the biggest African American holidays.
Folks love to cheer about freedom on July 4th, but in all actuality everyone wasn’t freed that day in 1776. In fact, it took until the Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1863 for slavery to be outlawed in this great nation…and another two and a half years before it reached the South. Some may say it’s because news traveled a lot slower back then, but I think it was also Southern slave owners wanting to hold onto what little bit of perceived power they had over the slaves they held.
You’ll mostly see this holiday celebrated in the South, especially Texas, and boy do we celebrate! The parades started last weekend, and we even have a few today. Plus it’s being taught in even more schools now. Slavery isn’t something that can be brushed under a rug, and I’m happy that we’re able to come together as a people a celebrate this remembrance day.
Oh! And I know I shared some of Naima Cochrane’s playlists yesterday, but she has this really dope one that is perfect for today’s celebration. Check it out below.