Compiled by the State Historical Society of Missouri at Columbia, Floyd C. Shoemaker, Secretary

On August 1, 1866, the streets of St. Louis were filled with crowds eager to witness the unprecedented parade of Negroes celebrating Emancipation Day. In a city well-versed in parades of all kinds, this procession stood out, featuring Negroes adorned in vibrant scarves and large rosettes, giving the event a festive flair. Leading the parade were 40 to 50 Negroes, their bayonets glinting in the sunlight, followed by brass bands that blared jubilant tunes. Banners and emblems proudly proclaimed, “The day we celebrate.”

The Emancipation Day celebrations extended beyond St. Louis to other major towns and cities across Missouri, leaving many white residents puzzled. The Jefferson City State Times reported a significant turnout of colored people in their city, celebrating a festival of some unknown society. Marching through the streets to the rhythm of fife and drum, the participants were not harassed or hindered in any way. When asked, the celebrants simply stated they were marking “Emancipation Day.”

Despite the lack of a direct historical connection between August 1 and the emancipation of Missouri slaves, several key dates in Missouri’s abolition history were noteworthy. On January 11, 1865, the Missouri State Convention passed an ordinance abolishing slavery, and Governor Thomas C. Fletcher declared Negroes in Missouri free on the same day. The Thirteenth Amendment to the Federal Constitution, prohibiting slavery, was proposed on February 1, 1865, adopted by Congress on April 8, 1865, and ratified by popular vote on June 6, 1865. Governor Fletcher proclaimed the Constitution in force from July 4, 1865. Other significant dates included Fremont’s proclamation on August 30, 1861, freeing the slaves of active secessionists (later revoked by Lincoln), Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation on January 3, 1863, and the gradual emancipation ordinance of 1863, which set a deadline of July 4, 1870, for the complete liberation of slaves.

The St. Louis Republican, on August 2, 1866, clarified that the August 1 celebration commemorated the emancipation of slaves in the West Indies in 1837. The tradition continued annually, reported by newspapers in St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, and St. Joseph. By the early 1900s, the date had shifted to August 4, and by 1920, it became a statewide celebration. Columbia hosted the event for ten years, with the Columbia Missourian noting an attendance of 2,000 Negroes at the fairgrounds on August 4, 1920. The program catered to all, from the youngest children to the elderly who remembered the days before the Civil War.

By 1868, the parades and celebrations in St. Louis had become more organized, thanks to the efforts of Negro societies like the Robert Smarr, the Mutual Aid, United Brothers, and Union League. In Jefferson City, speakers at the Emancipation Day program included Rev. J. Wesley Johnson, Governor Fletcher, Bobby Wingate, and T. A. Parker.

Despite the reasons for choosing August 4 remaining somewhat ambiguous, one explanation by a Negro school teacher suggested that the original emancipation date in January was impractical for celebrations due to winter weather. Thus, the West Indies’ Emancipation date in August was adopted for its favorable weather, later changing to August 4 to coincide with Independence Day celebrations.

Regardless of its origins, August 4 remains a cherished date for Missouri Negroes, celebrated with parades, baseball games, barbecues, and dances. The joy and enthusiasm with which they celebrate Emancipation Day underscore its significance, even if the date itself lacks direct historical ties to Missouri’s emancipation.