National Freedom Day
National Freedom Day is a United States observance on February 1 honoring
the signing by Abraham Lincoln of a joint House and Senate resolution that later became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. President Lincoln
signed the Amendment outlawing slavery on February 1, 1865, although it was not
ratified by the states until later.
Major Richard
Robert Wright Sr., a former slave,
believed that there should be a day when freedom for all Americans is
celebrated. While living in Philadelphia towards the end of his life, he
invited local and national leaders to meet to organize a movement for a
national holiday to commemorate Lincoln's signing of the 13th Amendment. The
resulting National Freedom Association proposed having a memorial date to call
attention to the continuing struggle for freedom for African-Americans. Since
President Lincoln had signed the 13th Amendment on the first day of February,
that date was chosen to celebrate National Freedom Day. The first commemoration
took place on February 1, 1942, at Independence
Hall. As it has every year since, the remembrance included laying a wreath at
the Liberty Bell.
On June 30, 1948, President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming February 1
as National Freedom Day. It is
not a federal holiday; government
offices and banks are open for business.
On this day many towns have festivals, while other
citizens reflect on the freedoms that the United States honors and to appreciate
the goodwill of the United States. Wreath-laying at the Liberty Bell has also
been a tradition to mark National Freedom Day for many years. Symbols of the
day may include a theme about freedom for all Americans.
The start of Black History Month.
ReplyDeleteBlack History Month, also known as African-American History Month in America, is an annual observance in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada in February and the United Kingdom in October.
Black History Month had its beginnings in 1926 in the United States, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February to be "Negro History Week". This week was chosen because it marked the birthday of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Woodson created the holiday with the hope that it eventually be eliminated when black history became fundamental to American history. Negro History Week was met with enthusiastic response; it prompted the creation of black history clubs, an increase in interest among teachers, and interest from progressive whites. Negro History Week grew in popularity throughout the following decades, with mayors across the United States endorsing it as a holiday.
This day Antwan André Patton was born. He is better known by his stage name Big Boi, is an American rapper, song-writer, record producer and actor, best known for being a member of American hip hop duo OutKast alongside André 3000. His work in the duo has produced six studio albums. During the duo's hiatus, he and André 3000 each announced plans to release a solo album. Big Boi's solo debut Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty was released in July 2010 to respectable sales and critical acclaim.
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