Notice! The coloured people of the city of Richmond would most respectfully inform the public, that they do not intend to celebrate the failure of the Southern
African Americans, emancipation, celebrations
Newspapers reported that about 20,000 African Americans turned out on April 3, 1866, to celebrate their emancipation in a parade from the fairgrounds to Capitol Square. Although many white Richmonders had expressed anger at the celebration, African Americans attempted to calm their fears by issuing this notice of their intent to celebrate their freedom and not the city's fall.
C. Harris, J. Cocks, J. Edmunds, F.J. Smith, N. Williams
Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia
April 2, 1866
Courtesy of the Virginia Historical Society
JPG
Broadside
Broadside 1866-13_VHS
Richmond, Virginia
"Celebration" and "Grand Celebration in Norfolk"
African Americans, emancipation, celebrations
On January 1, 1866, the third anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, African Americans in Hampton and Norfolk celebrated their freedom with parades, speakers, a reading of the proclamation, and a feast. The <em>True Southerner</em>, a radical newspaper established in 1865 by former United States Army officer David B. White, published accounts of the celebrations.
David B. White
Hampton <em>True Southerner</em>, January 4, 1866
<em>True Southerner</em>
January 1, 1866
Library of Virginia
CC BY-SA
JPG
Newspaper
True Southerner_01-04-1866a, True Southerner_01-04-1866b
Hampton and Norfolk, Virginia
Colored People's Celebration at Richmond, Va., 1890
African Americans, emancipation, celebrations
Seeking to establish a self-defined "National Thanksgiving Day for Freedom," African Americans sponsored a three-day Colored People's Celebration, held in Richmond, in October 1890.
Library of Virginia, Prints and Photographs
October 1890
Library of Virginia
CC BY-SA
JPG
Broadside
07_0428_01 Colored peoples celebration_.jpg
Richmond, Virginia
"The Emancipation Celebration. Line of March—Opinion of our Citizens"
African Americans, emancipation, celebrations
A few days before holding an Emancipation Proclamation celebration in October 1890, Richmond residents debated what should be the proper date for commemorating the abolition of slavery.
<em>Richmond Planet</em>, October 11, 1890
<em>Richmond Planet</em>
October 11, 1890
Library of Virginia
CC BY-SA
JPG
Newspaper
Emancipation Celebration_Richmond Planet_10-11-1890.jpg, Richmond Planet_10-11-1890_transcription.pdf
Richmond, Virginia
Emancipation Day Celebration in Richmond
African Americans, emancipation, celebrations
In 1905 African Americans in Richmond celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the end of slavery.
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (LC-DIG-det-4a12513 )
Detroit Publishing Co.
1905
Courtesy of Library of Congress
CC BY-SA
JPG
Dry plate negative
Richmond 1905 parade_LC 4a12513a
Richmond, Virginia
Parade Celebrating the 81st Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation
African Americans, emancipation, celebrations
Sections of the 3166th Quartermaster Service Company, Color Guard and 3167th Quartermaster Service Company of Camp Hill, march down Jefferson Avenue, in Newport News, during a parade marking the 81st Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Shipyard workers' floats, Camp Hill Quartermaster Service Companies, and the Camp Hill Band also participated in the parade.
U.S. Army Signal Corps
U.S. Army Signal Corps Photograph Collection, Library of Virginia, Prints and Photographs
December 31, 1944
Library of Virginia
CC BY-SA
JPG
Photograph
SC-23-035 Newport News 1944
Newport News, Virginia
Position to a Lawful Celebration
African Americans, celebrations, race relations, violence
In 1865 David B. White, a former colonel of the New York 81st Infantry Volunteers, established the <em>True Southerner</em> in Hampton (later moved to Norfolk). Operating with the motto "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal," he advocated the interests of Virginia's freedpeople. In this editorial, White responded to inaccurate accounts of a riot in Norfolk in which whites attacked a parade of African Americans celebrating the recent passage of a national civil rights act. He placed the blame on whites who "attacked the negroes without provocation," and posed the question whether loyal Virginians were to abandon celebrations "in our own country, lest we offend the enemy?"
David B. White
Norfolk <em>True Southerner</em>, April 19, 1866
<em>True Southerner</em>
April 1868
Library of Virginia
CC BY-SA
JPG
Newspaper
True Southerner_04-19-1866
Norfolk, Virginia