March 10 is greater than only a date—it’s a name to honor each resistance and relaxation, two issues which have been important to Black survival and liberation. On at the present time, we rejoice Harriet Tubman Day, formally acknowledged by the U.S. authorities in 1990, in addition to the Nationwide Black Day of Relaxation, a motion advocating for Black girls to reclaim their time, power, and well-being.
Traditionally, Black girls have carried the load of household, neighborhood, and actions for justice, typically at the price of their very own well-being. Harriet Tubman’s life was a testomony to relentless labor and sacrifice. Born into enslavement as Araminta Ross in 1822, the girl we now know as Harriet Tubman escaped in 1849. Nonetheless, she didn’t cease there. Tubman went on to information over 300 enslaved folks, together with her dad and mom, to freedom by way of the Underground Railroad, incomes her the title of “Moses of Her Folks.” And her work didn’t cease there—she was a Civil Battle spy, a suffragist, and a incapacity rights advocate earlier than that was even a factor. Although the U.S. Congress solely formally acknowledged Harriet Tubman Day in 1990, in honor of her passing on March 10, 1913, her legacy impressed generations of Black girls lengthy earlier than that.
Quick ahead to right this moment, Black girls are nonetheless anticipated to avoid wasting the day—whether or not at work, at residence, within the voting sales space, or in social actions —whereas concurrently dwelling their lives and making an attempt to meet their desires. Nonetheless, sporting that many hats will be exhausting, therefore the push for initiatives like “Nationwide Day of Relaxation for Black Ladies” or “Black Lady’s Day Off,” usually noticed on October 11. As beforehand reported by theGrio, many organizations like 25 Black Ladies in Magnificence inspired girls to prioritize relaxation on December 2, 2024. Truthfully, whether or not it’s noticed on December 2nd or March tenth, the nationwide initiative underscores that relaxation shouldn’t be restricted to at some point.
The Nationwide Day of Relaxation for Black Ladies is about reclaiming time, power, and peace. It’s a day to do no matter fuels you—whether or not it’s sleeping in, saying “no” with out guilt, or just current with out the strain to carry out. As a result of actual liberation means Black girls don’t should burn themselves out to show their value.
Harriet Tubman put all the things on the road to make sure others might dwell freely. As we speak, Black girls are nonetheless main, preventing, and displaying as much as keep that legacy and that ought to embrace the best to relaxation with out guilt. These two observances on the identical day are not any coincidence however a reminder that whereas motion is highly effective, so is stillness.
Ladies’s Historical past Month typically highlights all of the wonderful issues girls have carried out, however right this moment, let’s rejoice the pause. Honoring Black girls and their historical past means honoring their proper to relaxation, recharge, and simply be. This March tenth, allow us to bear in mind: Harriet ran so we might relaxation, and that relaxation is simply as revolutionary.
