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Society & Culture

Flowers on Their Graves: The Real History of Memorial Day

podcast May 28, 2022

Background
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We know memorial day as the last weekend in May that honors veterans and marks the beginning of summer. But how did this holiday start? And who created it? Listen to this episode to find out the real history of memorial day, that includes Black folks. 

Here are key things to listen out for:

  1. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day
  2. The  Overlooked Black History Memorial Day
  3. Historian David’s narration of the first Memorial Day
  4. The story of Sergeant Butler
  5. Whitewashing process of retelling the memorial day

Timestamps

[00:00:34] The Civil War and the death of 600,000 men 

[00:03:08] Memorial day and why it continues to be among the most important National Observances 

[00:04:33] History of Memorial Day

[00:06:19] how black folks created Memorial Day

[00: 07:12] The first Memorial Day as narrated by Historian David

[00:11:54] the tribute that gave birth to Memorial Day

[00:14:29] White washing process of retelling the Memorial Story and the flower idea for decoration

[00:15:42] When Memorial holiday first became a national celebration

[00:19:20] The Justice system is fucked up 

[00:21:43] the military veteran Success Story is only one side of the coin and the racism ingrained in the military

[00:23:08] the story of Sergeant William Butler 

[00:26:12]Blacks double edged sword of being proud that for your military service

[00:27:41] the murder of George Floyd was linked to the Memorial Day

[00:30:26] how teachers are eliminating important history, important black history and certain aspects of teaching in a curriculum 

Notable Quotes

  • “Memorial Day continues to be among the most important national observances, and big cities and small towns in the US each and every year, on the last weekend of May. Americans are called to pause.[00:03:07]
  • “This country still doesn’t fully acknowledge black folks as fucking human beings most of the time.”[00:04:04]
  • “In the afternoon, three white and black union regiments marched around the graves and staged a drill. I think that’s when they like, you know, shoot the gun all together at the same time. I think that’s what a drill is.”[00:11:40]
  • “Memorial Day had been founded by African Americans in a ritual of remembrance and consecration.”[00:12:36]
  • “Black folks were suddenly erased from the story of Memorial Day by who white democrats after they had regained control of state politics at the end of Reconstruction.”[00:14:15]
  • “After being freed, one of the first things that many groups of black folks did was gathered to pay tribute to those who died while fighting for them freedom.”[00:16:45]
  • “f you put a uniform on a black man and a musk on his shoulder, then you could not stop him from being a citizen.”[00:18:29]
  • “Veteran Success Story is only one side of the coin.”[00:20:06]
  • once you impress the Negro with the fact that he is defending the flag, and inflate his untutored soul with military heirs, it reached the conclusion that his political rights must be respected [00:22:33]
  • “I feel like there’s like a double edged sword of being proud that for your military service and for fighting for your country, but knowing despite your heroism and your bravery of like being like, I’m gonna be on the front line.”[00:26:11]
  • “There is a pattern where media and dare I say racist, people and white politicians shift the narrative to erase black folks contribution to history and to position themselves as the heroes or as the originators.” [00:29:32]

Connect with Toya the Host

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Resources

Book: Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom

Book: David Blight: Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory

Additional Resources

The First American Memorial Day is commemorated

The Overlooked Black History of Memorial Day

Celebrating the Black History Of Memorial Day

Memorial Day: America’s strained salute to its black veterans

Black People Invented Memorial Day

Former slaves honoring Black soldiers: Civil rights lawyer issues reminder of Memorial Day origins

Audio cut during speech about Black people’s role in Memorial Day at Ohio ceremony

Why is Memorial Day in May? 5 interesting facts about Memorial Day

A summer of protests exposed deep demands for change—and entrenched obstacles

George Floyd biography announced for spring 2022

Follow the thread Ben Crump’s tweet

Call to Action

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