Activists Highlight the Role of Black Veterans in the Holiday’s Origins
Today, as the nation observes Memorial Day, a long-established federal holiday dedicated to honoring America’s veterans who have died in service, discussions surrounding its origins reveal competing narratives. Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday in May, began as “Decoration Day” in the aftermath of the Civil War, a conflict that resulted in over 600,000 soldier casualties.
Originally commemorating those lost in the Civil War, the observance eventually expanded to include veterans from the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. This year, the observance comes as President Biden announces the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, marking the end of a protracted U.S. presence in the region.
On social media, racial justice activist and lawyer Ben Crump emphasized an alternative narrative about Memorial Day’s origins. He tweeted, “Let everyone know the truth: Newly liberated Black people in Charleston created Memorial Day to honor Black soldiers for their courage and tenacity after they fought on the frontlines of the Civil War.”
Historian David W. Blight, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who has extensively researched the life of Frederick Douglass, corroborated this claim. In a 1996 discovery, Blight found evidence of a memorial event organized by Black veterans. He recounted to History.com that “on 1 May 1865, more than 10,000 people, mainly formerly enslaved individuals, paraded around a race track in a celebration believed to be the earliest recorded Memorial Day.”
As the nation reflects on its history today, it is essential to recognize that Black history has often been marginalized in mainstream narratives, highlighting the importance of remembering events like the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, which occurred 100 years ago on this day.
