The topic of slave history opens the door for numerous questions about its past.
Written by Jordan Shelton
The origins of many events in history have been written countless times, but the specific details of their foundations remain unknown. Many historians have spent their entire lives researching the past lifestyles and origins of enslaved Africans and there is still plenty of information unknown.
The enslavement of Africans is said to have started in late August 1619. These extremely unfortunate events lasted over 400 years. Multiple generations of over 15 million black men, women and children had to endure one of the darkest times in history.
While living through this violent time, enslaved people still managed to create a life for themselves, including traditions and celebrations of holidays. Holidays like Christmas, Easter, New Year’s Day and even Valentine’s Day were celebrated by them, but their experiences were complicated. Celebrations weren't executed like they are today due to obvious reasons such as slave owners controlling how they acknowledged the holidays.
Major holidays like Christmas and Easter were more known to enslaved people than minor holidays like Valentine’s Day, but they brought an equal amount of joy when celebrated. Enslaved people took on Feb. 14 with oral traditions, meaningful gestures, restricted celebrations and community gatherings.
Enslaved people could not exchange materialistic gifts or take each other on dates. They could not participate in the typical traditions, but they did what they could to recognize the day and be a part of the celebration like everyone else.
One of the most prominent abolitionists of all time, Frederick Douglass, has an important significance when it comes to Valentine’s Day. While there is no record of his birth, Frederick Douglass chose to celebrate his birthday on Feb. 14 every year as he remembered his mother calling him her “little valentine” as a child.
While there is not as much information about Black enslaved people celebrating Valentine’s Day as there is about them celebrating other holidays, research shows that they did celebrate the holiday each year.