When is National Freedom Day?
February 1st is National Freedom Day.
What is National Freedom Day?
The United States of America, the land of the free—that wasn’t always the case. Slavery was not outlawed until the end of the Civil War, fifty-one years after that line in the Star-Spangled Banner was written. But slavery is now outlawed, and on National Freedom Day we celebrate freedom from slavery and liberty for all.
Any day is a good day to throw a party for freedom, but National Freedom Day specifically honors the end of legal enslavement. Twisted people still traffic human slaves in and out of the U.S., but it’s not legal like it was two hundred years ago. This is a day for all people to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S. and to enjoy the liberty to live and worship how we please.
Fun facts about National Freedom Day!
- Major Richard Robert Wright, Sr., a former slave, pushed for the creation of National Freedom Day in the 1930s and 1940s.
- President Harry Truman signed National Freedom Day into existence in 1948, the year after Wright died.
- Wright argued that the slaves were freed by the 13th Amendment—not the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation.
- President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment (outlawing slavery) on February 1st, 1865, but the states didn’t ratify the amendment until December 18th of that year.
How to celebrate National Freedom Day:
- Spend time with friends and family discussing the freedoms you enjoy.
- Attend a local festival for freedom. If you can’t find any, urge your city officials to start an annual event to honor our freedoms.
- Promote the fight against modern slavery by donating to organizations that combat U.S. and global human trafficking.
What’s the hashtag for National Freedom Day?
Use #NationalFreedomDay on social media to celebrate your freedoms.