In Memory of Memorial Day
- May 25
- 2 min read
It is an interesting phenomenon in the United States to take observances that once held meaning and turn them into more mundane gatherings primarily focused on consumption and capitalism. From secular to sacred traditions, the US has almost systematically scrubbed real meaning from our holidays and replaced it with reasons for blowout sales and barbecues. Histories have been erased or re-written. Re-enactments, once tools for remembrance, have become the butt of jokes. Unless we are personally invested, many of us has become complicit in this eradication through our focus on food and festivities without recognition of why we’re feasting in the first place. But the internet and libraries are free and so is our will to use them to find out the historical context for the cookout. So, today’s post is dedicated to me using my own free will to share a few resources on the “hidden” history of Memorial Day. I hope it helps.
To learn the history of Memorial Day, check out this page from the National Park Service website on “African American Contributions to Memorial Day.”
The NPS site mentions a 1878 Decoration Day (precursor to Memorial Day) speech given by Frederick Douglass in New York that is definitely worth a read.
If you need a quick video overview to motivate you to learn more about why Memorial Day exists, check out this short video from The Root:
For me, all of this is a reminder of the importance of remembering the lives and sacrifices of those who came before us. This practice is an integral part of Black American culture, rooted in ancestral traditions from West Africa. An article from the Dekalb History Center reminds us:
“Many African cultures emphasize the importance of death as a transition into the spiritual world...In some West African traditions, it was believed that disturbing a grave could unleash a restless spirit. With offerings and rituals, the living would be protected from them. These superstitions carried profound spiritual meaning and helped foster a sense of communal responsibility around burials. Elements of these beliefs persist in Black communities reflecting a reverence for ancestors and a desire to maintain spiritual harmony between worlds.”
The free Black Americans of Charleston, S.C. who created the first Memorial Day knew the importance of this honoring of life and death and I hope that we all remember to carry forward their legacy.
Comments