Congress Establishes August 20th as ‘Original Slavery Remembrance Day’ to Honor Victims and Resistance

This Joint Resolution officially establishes August 20th as “Original Slavery Remembrance Day” across the country. The core of the bill is to formally recognize and condemn the history of slavery in the U.S. and globally, setting aside this date to commemorate the lives of all enslaved people and acknowledge the lasting harm, or “evil progenies,” that resulted from it. It also requests that the President issue a formal proclamation asking the nation to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies.

The Date That Matters: August 20th

Why August 20th? The resolution ties the date back to a pivotal moment in American history: the arrival of the first 20 enslaved Africans at what is now Fort Monroe, Virginia, on August 20, 1619. For busy people, this resolution is essentially Congress ensuring that this painful, foundational history doesn’t get swept under the rug. It’s a formal, national commitment to remembrance, ensuring that the suffering endured during the Atlantic slave trade—including the millions abducted and the estimated 12 percent who did not survive the Middle Passage—remains part of our collective memory.

Honoring the Fighters and the Founders

Beyond just setting a date, the resolution uses the opportunity to celebrate resistance. It recalls figures like Nat Turner, who led a major revolt in 1831, and abolitionist John Brown. Crucially, it highlights Harriet Tubman, recognizing her role in the Underground Railroad and her historic achievement as the first woman to plan and lead a U.S. military operation, which liberated 700 enslaved people during the Civil War. Furthermore, the resolution posthumously recognizes several Black members of Congress who served during and immediately after the Reconstruction Era, such as Joseph Hayne Rainey and George Henry White, naming them honorary cosponsors to finally give them their due.

Connecting History to the Present Day

The resolution doesn't treat slavery as a distant, isolated event; it explicitly connects this history to ongoing systemic issues. It acknowledges that descendants of the enslaved continue to face the effects of this past, citing historical injustices like the Great Migration, Jim Crow laws, and the horrific practice of convict leasing—a system where imprisoned people were leased to private companies, which the bill references by noting the discovery of 95 remains subjected to this system in Texas in 2018. For the everyday person, this means Congress is formally recognizing that issues like mass incarceration and institutionalized racism have deep roots that trace back to slavery. While the resolution is purely commemorative and has no direct regulatory impact on your job or taxes, it serves as a powerful, official statement that history matters and its consequences are still being felt today.