Memorial Day: Patriotism, Power, and Whose Story Counts - The First Memorial Day Was Created by Freed Black Americans in Charleston in 1865

Holiday History

Mar 19 2026 | 00:10:36

00:00 / 00:10:36

Show Notes

Discover how freed Black Americans created the first Memorial Day in Charleston in 1865—a forgotten history that reveals patriotism's true meaning. Explore how this powerful origin story was erased, and examine how Memorial Day's meaning has been shaped by competing narratives about race, power, and whose sacrifices we choose to remember.

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