Reflecting on National Freedom Day

A banner featuring an image of Major Richard Robert Wright Sr. that says National Freedom Day February 1

Banner features an image of Major Richard Robert Wright, Sr. in 1903

 

The last days of January and the early days of February 1865 marked a milestone moment in U.S. history.  On January 31st, 1865, Congress passed a new resolution that would become a new amendment to the Constitution. President Lincoln signed off on this transformative piece of legislation the next day, setting in motion the creation of the 13th Amendment, which would formally abolish slavery in the United States.

 

It would take until December of 1865 before the amendment was ratified, but its passage demonstrated a step forward and took Congressional authority to another level.  This brief amendment gave Congress the “power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” Lincoln saw this legislation as the “King’s cure for all the evils. It winds the whole thing up,” not yet realizing that the struggle for true freedom and equality was only beginning.

 

Major Richard Robert Wright, Sr. in 1921

In the decades that followed, advocates continued to push for recognition of the amendment. Among them was Major Richard Robert Wright Sr., who was born into slavery and served in multiple wars, becoming the highest ranking African American officer in the military during the Spanish-American War. Major Wright emerged as a leader in advocating for Civil Rights and education for black students across the United States. He was also one of the earliest voices call for a national day of observance to commemorate the 13th Amendment. He viewed freedom as “… a word that belongs to no one race, but to all humanity.”

 

In 1947, Congress passed a bill marking February 1st as National Freedom Day.  The bill was signed into effect by President Harry Truman the following year. Truman stated in a proclamation:

 

“Whereas that Amendment is a corner stone in the foundation of our American traditions, and the signing of the resolution is a landmark in the Nation’s effort to fulfill the principles of freedom and justice proclaimed in the first ten amendments to the Constitution; and

 

Whereas, by a joint resolution approved June 30, 1948, the Congress authorized the President to proclaim the first day of February of each year as National Freedom Day in commemoration of the signing of the resolution of February 1, 1865; and

 

Whereas the Government and people of the United States wholeheartedly support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 10, 1948, which declares that “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”:

 

Now, therefore, I, Harry S. Truman, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate February 1, 1949, and each succeeding February 1, as national Freedom Day; and I call upon the people of the United States to pause on that day in solemn contemplation of the glorious blessings of freedom which we humbly and thankfully enjoy.”

 

 National Freedom Day is linked to the start of Black History Month. Each year, The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) sets a theme for Black History Month to bring the public’s attention to important developments and aspects of history. This year’s theme is “A Century of Black History Commemorations“. ASALH expanded upon this theme on their website, stating, “This year, when we are also commemorating the 250th anniversary of United States independence, it is important to tell not only an inclusive history, but an accurate one,” which resonates deeply with the mission and purpose behind our work at Historic Sotterley.

 

Visitors to Historic Sotterley encounter a place where the pursuit of freedom is inseparable from the landscape and the stories preserved here. Through our exhibits, tours, and events, guests learn about the lives of those who were enslaved at Sotterley, including families like the Kanes, whose resilience and legacy continue to shape our understanding of the site. They also discover the experiences of families who lived and worked here after Emancipation, such as the Barbers, whose descendants remain active partners in preserving this history.

 

Their voices, memories, and stewardship help ensure that Sotterley remains a place where the past is not only remembered but used to deepen our collective understanding, so that the lessons of history continue to inform our shared path forward.