There are certain milestone events in human history that brings sweet music to the hearts of the attentive. August 1 should be one such day.


The stores talk about Christmas in July to engage us in more commercial transaction, but we need to begin to see August 1 as a Christmas morning type period as we can focus on the meaning of the season and not the distracting swirl. At the heart of the message of Christianity is the message of freedom.


South Africa celebrate Freedom day in April. Jews celebrate Passover, and African Americans celebrate freedom on Juneteenth. And you?

August 1 celebrate emancipation day for slavery within the British Empire.
First, a brief history; The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 ended slavery in the British Empire on August 1, 1834 and Emancipation Day is widely recognized in the Caribbean during the first week of August.


Britain had outlawed the slave trade with the Slave Trade Act in 1807, with penalties of £100 per slave levied on British captains found importing slaves. However, this did not stop the slave trade as the sea cops of the day; the Royal navy had major challenges catching the culprits. Ships in violation would heave slaves overboard to limit the fine when confronted on the high seas.


Years later, 1823 to be specific, Wilberforce was a leader among a growing movement to give abolition real teeth.

The yearning within the breast of freedom lovers such as Sam Sharpe was quite evident in Jamaica with the revolt during the Christmas holiday of 1831 It was organized originally as a peaceful strike by Baptist minister Sam Sharpe. The rebellion was suppressed by the militia of the Jamaican plantation owners and the British garrison. The tragedy of this incidence led to several inquiries by the British parliament. The results of these inquiries were a major factor in the abolition of slavery act of 1833.


Take a moment this week and think of the many synonyms of emancipation. Here is a starting list,

 delivery
 freedom
 release
 independence
 deliverance
 liberation
 Setting free
 Enfranchisement

Now Your learning begins:


 Make a word game with these words and share them with your kids at dinner time.
 Go to the library and educate yourself as to some of the heroes of the abolition movement.
 Have your child write an essay that they can use in school in the Fall that increases their understanding.
 Help your child do WORD ART with these sweet words.
 Text a word of freedom each day to a friend.
 Tweet a statement of freedom to help you embed the importance of this gift.


Yes, never forget emancipation!