Our history

Richard Robert Wright Sr. was born a slave in Georgia in 1855. After emancipation, he graduated college as valedictorian, founded multiple schools and became a leader in higher education. One of his most enduring legacies is National Freedom Day, which is celebrated each year on Feb. 1.

Wright chose the date to mark the 1865 signing of the joint resolution that would become the 13th Amendment, which outlawed slavery in the United States. Wright created the National Freedom Day Association to work toward national recognition of the event. He died in 1947 before his vision came to pass, but President Harry Truman signed a bill the next year establishing National Freedom Day.

It's a fitting start to Black History Month, which is itself a product of tireless advocacy. Historian Carter Woodson, often called the "father of Black history," observed that Black accomplishments were "overlooked, ignored, and even suppressed by the writers of history textbooks and the teachers who use them."

To remedy this, Woodson established Negro History Week in 1926, which coincided with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass in the second week of February. Students and staff at Kent State University later expanded the weeklong event into a month, and Black History Month has been designated by the U.S. president each year since 1976.

Take some time this month to learn more about Wright, Woodson and the reason behind their work. Preserve the history of our nation and honor those that have fought and continue to fight to create a nation of equality.

Veridian is committed to being a credit union where everyone belongs. This article series spotlights different groups to encourage mutual understanding and to help create communities where everyone feels welcome.