It’s officially Black History Month and February 1st signals Langston Hughes’ the famous poet and writers birthday. Today though, I also learned out about a hidden holiday that Philadelphia created on February 1st, National Freedom day, a day in commemoration of the signing of the third amendment abolishing slavery.
Philadelphia encyclopedia(a very neat site), says that National Freedom Day was “Created in 1942 by a Philadelphian born in slavery, the annual National Freedom Day commemoration each February 1 calls attention to the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which ended slavery, and the continuing struggle for African American justice and equality.”
I think the remembrance of the beginning abolition of slavery is very important and shouldn’t be forgotten. This holiday is both well placed and necessary, I also love that it was created by Philly.
And of course in remembrance of Langston Hughes I have to share a poem of his:
Let the rain kiss you
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops
Let the rain sing you a lullaby
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk
The rain makes running pools in the gutter
The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night
And I love the rain.
For more information on National Freedom day check out http://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/national-freedom-day/