Join us as we celebrate Black August, a time to honor the courage and resilience of Black freedom fighters and political prisoners. This month-long observance is a call to action for social justice and liberation, reminding us of the ongoing fight against racial oppression. It is a time for reflection, study, and action to promote Black Liberation.
At our co-op, we recognize the connection between the social justice and liberation aspects of Black August and our mission to create a more diverse and inclusive food system. Access to healthy foods is essential to thriving communities but there are many Black communities that do not have accessible and affordable healthy options. This is just one part of the larger struggle for Black Liberation.
Black August is a month-long observance that began as a commemoration of the black author and revolutionary George Jackson in the California State Prison System. August holds a plethora of vital moments in the struggle for Black Freedom. Here are several significant events observed during Black August:
Haitian Revolution (Aug 21, 1791) – a successful insurrection by self-liberated slaves against French colonial rule in Saint-Domingue, now known as Haiti.
Nat Turner’s Rebellion (Aug 21, 1831) – a rebellion of enslaved Virginians that took place in Southampton County, Virginia, led by Nat Turner.
The Underground Railroad (Aug 2, 1850) – established by Harriet Tubman to help aid enslaved people in their escape routes to freedom.
Fugitive Slave Law Convention (Aug 21-22, 1850) – a convention chaired by Frederick Douglass, in New York to organize opposition to the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which legalized the capture of escaped enslaved people in every state.
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (Aug 28, 1963) – when over 250,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial to draw attention to continuing challenges and inequalities faced by Black people. Also, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream Speech.”
California Prison Hunger Strikes (took place in Aug 2011, Aug 2013) – Prisoners in Pelican Bay’s Security Housing Unit organized mass hunger strikes at prisons across California to protest solitary confinement and advocated for medical care.
Black August is not just a time for study and reflection; it is also a time to promote action in your community. Want to get involved? Check out some of the local non-profits we support putting in the work!
Organizations we support:
NC Black Alliance, Raleigh, NC
NC CRED, Durham, NC
Emancipate NC, Durham, NC
EMPOWERment Inc, Chapel Hill, NC
The Black Farmers Market, Durham NC
The Land Loss Prevention Project, Durham NC
PHOTO: March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom from August 28, 1963.