Frederick Douglass escaped slavery and went on to be an influential anti-slavery and women’s rights activist. He never knew when his actual birthday was. Many enslaved Americans didn’t. As Douglass wrote in his 1845 autobiography:
“I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it. . . . I do not remember to have ever met a slave who could tell of his birthday. They seldom come nearer to it than planting-time, harvest-time, cherry-time, spring-time, or fall-time.”
— Frederick Douglass, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass“
He goes on to describe how this lack of knowledge caused him a lot of pain in his childhood. After all, all the white children could tell their ages.
All Douglass knew was that the year of his birth was 1818. And the only reason he knew that was because, in 1835, he overheard the plantation owner mention that Douglass was seventeen years old.
Asking about his actual birthday got him zero answers. Instead, the plantation owner told Douglass that his questions were “improper and impertinent, and evidence of a restless spirit”.
That last part had some truth in it. Douglass tried to escape the bonds of slavery several times throughout his young adulthood. In September of 1838, he made it to the free state of New York.
His description of how he felt after his successful escape demonstrates the double-edged sword of this existence. On the one hand: “It was a moment of the highest excitement I ever experienced.” On the other hand: “I was yet liable to be taken back, and subjected to all the tortures of slavery. This in itself was enough to damp the ardor of my enthusiasm.”
Frederick Douglass spent the rest of his life fighting for the abolition of slavery and the rights of women. As a free man, he created what had been denied him all his life: a birthday. He estimated that he was born in February, and decided to celebrate it on February 14th.
After his death, African American activist, educator, and author Mary Church Terrell established February 14th as Douglass Day.
The “father of Black History Month” Carter G. Woodson chose a week in February for the Black History celebration in part because it’s the month Frederick Douglass celebrated his birthday.
Happy birthday to ya, Frederick Douglass!
“We have to do with the past only as we can make it useful to the present and to the future.”
— Frederick Douglass, Speech at Rochester, New York, July 5, 1852
https://nmblc.org/black-owned-businesses/
Shannon Moreau is the Editor of the NMBLC EQ Blog
February is Black History Month in the United States. Here at the New Mexico Black Leadership Council (NMBLC), we say that Black History is all year, all around us, even when we don’t know it. Black History Month in New Mexico kicked into gear at the University of New Mexico with the Africana Studies Kick Off Brunch on January 28, 2023.
In 2023, NMBLC is shouting out all the amazing and fun community events happening in New Mexico for Black History Month and beyond. Our goal is to collect and post all the events we can find on our community events calendar so that you know what’s up.
Want to learn how the legislature impacts the African American community? Head to African-American Day at the Legislature in Santa Fe on February 10, 2023.
Looking for something to do around Valentines’ Day? Consider Romeo and Juliet, featuring a Black and Latino cast at Popejoy on February 19, 2023.
Want to show your Lobo pride? Cheer on the Lobo Men’s Basketball Game featuring Divine Nine Sororities and enjoy a Black Greek step show on February 28, 2023.
Keep scrolling for a sampling of Black History Month events in New Mexico. Then check out our events calendar for a full listing.
Come back whenever you’re looking for something to do. We update the calendar with new events as soon as they enter our radar.
When: Saturday, February 11, 2023, 1pm
Where: Guild Cinema, 3405 Central Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM
What else: NMBLC has partnered with The Guild to provide free tickets to the screening. Use the form at the link below to get on the list!
Sign up for the free movie screening of I Know a Man . . . Ashley Bryan
More info on the Special Free Screening
When:
Friday, February 10, 2023, 10:30pm: The Unsettling.
Tuesday – Thursday, February 14 – 16, 2023, 8pm: Love Jones presented by NM Entertainment
Saturday, February 18, 1pm: Free at Last: A Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Short Documentary presented by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of New Mexico
Where: Guild Cinema, 3405 Central Avenue NE, Albuquerque, NM
What else: More information at the link below:
When: Saturday, February 18, 2023, 6pm: Opening Reception. Exhibit runs through April 30, 2023
Where: African American Performing Arts Center, 310 San Pedro NE, Albuquerque, NM
What else: An interactive exhibit following the journey of African American homesteaders in New Mexico. More information at the link below:
When: Tuesday, February 14, 2023, all day
Where: KTAL Radio
What else: The first feature of the new series Las Cruces Stories about beloved and dedicated teacher Mr. Clarence Fielder. More information at the link below:
When: Wednesday, February 22, 2023, 11:30am
Where: CNM Montoya Campus, 4700 Morris St NE, Room: SRC 204, Albuquerque, NM
What else: A lecture about author Octavia Butler’s legacy. More information at the link below:
When: Thursday, February 23, 2023, 5:00pm
Where: UNM Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, 500 University Blvd NE, Hibben Center Room: 105, Albuquerque, NM
What else: Historian Dr. Timothy E. Nelson’s talk about Blackdom, New Mexico. More information at the link below:
When: Friday, February 24, 2023, 5:30pm
Where: Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM
What else: The Office of Black Community Engagement hosts this event to celebrate Black History and provide the latest updates from the office. More information at the link below:
Black History Month Meet & Greet
That’s just a sampling of the Black History Month events happening around New Mexico. Go to our community events calendar for more listings!
Have an event you want posted on the community calendar? Send an email to info@nmblc.org
https://nmblc.org/black-owned-businesses/
Shannon Moreau is the Editor of the NMBLC EQ Blog