JAYFORCE

(Above: Yale Professor David Blight recounts the 1st Memorial Day organized by Blacks in 1865)

An enlightening read, “The Black Roots of Memorial Day,” relates a historical account with elements common to several U.S. regions’ claiming to be the early birthplace of the National Holiday commemorating America’s fallen soldiers. In addition to several print versions online, surfing YouTube on the topic, you will come across several videos that tell the origin story of Memorial day. Below, after the jump, is the segment produced by the History Channel.

It seems that all origin stories agree that a grassroots movement to decorate the graves of those who died fighting in the Civil War, Union and Confederate, in honor of them giving their lives for what they believed to be their country’s cause, eventually became Decoration Day…which eventually became Memorial Day. Also common to most accounts, holding that the Memorial Day is still more of a ‘Union’ observation, we find several southern states continue to celebrate Confederate Memorial Day.

Offered after the jump is more on “The Black Roots”… But in the end, what matters is what matters to you. Celebrate the holiday as you feel best. Now, you can do so knowing a bit more about the history behind it.

Be safe and thankful for folks looking out for you, then and now.

READ THE FULL REPRINT OF ‘THE BLACK ROOTS OF MEMORIAL DAY’ HERE.

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