Ida B. Wells and Frederick Douglass co-authored: "The Reason Why the Colored American Is Not in the 1893 Chicago World's Columbian Exposition."

Ida B. Wells grew up in the post–Civil War South and became a fierce opponent of lynching. She came to Chicago in 1893 to protest the exclusion of Negroes from exhibits at the World's Columbian Exposition. The Haitian building stood in as a center for Americans of color. Frederick Douglass, the noted abolitionist, and advocate for equal rights represented the Haitian government at the fair. Wells described Haiti's pavilion as “one of the gems of the World's Fair, and in it, Mr. Douglass held high court.”

 

                             Ida B. Wells                                                Frederick Douglass


Wells and Douglass co-authored and published the book, "The Reason Why the Colored American Is Not In The World's Columbian Exposition." (in PDF Format)

As Wells described it, the booklet was a clear, plain statement of facts concerning the oppression put upon the colored people in this land of the free and home of the brave. We circulated ten thousand copies of this little book during the remaining three months of the fair. Every day I was on duty at the Haitian building, where Mr. Douglass gave me a desk and spent days putting this pamphlet in the hands of foreign visitors to the World's Fair.

Ultimately, the fair officials offered to sponsor a special day for Negroes. Wells and many other African Americans considered Negro Day little more than a gesture and were reluctant to participate. Frederick Douglass, however, took the opportunity to spotlight the problems that people of color faced in the United States. Douglass died in 1895, but Ida B. Wells moved permanently to Chicago and became involved in a wide range of civic and club activities like that of the Alpha [Woman's] Suffrage Club of Chicago. Wells was a Chicagoan until her death in 1931.

Compiled by Neil Gale, Ph.D. 

“Barack Obama Day” is celebrated every August 4th which is his Birthday. It was made a state of Illinois holiday in 2018.

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In historical writing and analysis, PRESENTISM introduces present-day ideas and perspectives into depictions or interpretations of the past. Presentism is a form of cultural bias that creates a distorted understanding of the subject matter. Reading modern notions of morality into the past is committing the error of presentism. Historical accounts are written by people and can be slanted, so I try my hardest to present fact-based and well-researched articles.

Facts don't require one's approval or acceptance.

I present [PG-13] articles without regard to race, color, political party, or religious beliefs, including Atheism, national origin, citizenship status, gender, LGBTQ+ status, disability, military status, or educational level. What I present are facts — NOT Alternative Facts — about the subject. You won't find articles or readers' comments that spread rumors, lies, hateful statements, and people instigating arguments or fights.

FOR HISTORICAL CLARITY

When I write about the INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, I follow this historical terminology:

• The use of old commonly used terms, disrespectful today, i.e., REDMAN or REDMEN, SAVAGES, and HALF-BREED are explained in this article.

Writing about AFRICAN-AMERICAN history, I follow these race terms:

• "NEGRO" was the term used until the mid-1960s.
• "BLACK" started being used in the mid-1960s.
• "AFRICAN-AMERICAN" [Afro-American] began usage in the late 1980s.

— PLEASE PRACTICE HISTORICISM —

THE INTERPRETATION OF THE PAST IN ITS OWN CONTEXT.

 

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Illinois celebrated the first state holiday for the former President's birthday, "Barack Obama Day," on August 4, 2018.

Barack Hussein Obama was photographed for Rolling Stone magazine in 2012, just before beginning his second term as President of the United States.

The bill was introduced to the Senate floor by Senator Emil Jones III and passed both houses of the Illinois General Assembly on May 19, 2017, with no votes against it. However, several legislators abstained from the vote. It was handed to the governor for approval on June 16, 2017.

The day is "set apart to honor the 44th President of the United States of America who began his career serving the People of Illinois in both the Illinois State Senate and the United States Senate. He dedicated his life to protecting the rights of Americans and building bridges across communities." 

Illinois Senate Bill 55 was passed by Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, Republican, on August 4, 2017.

"It's incredibly proud of Illinois that the President came from Illinois. I think it's awesome, and we should celebrate it," Rauner said, "I don't think it should be a formal holiday with paid, forced time off, but I think it should be a day of acknowledgment and celebration." Barack Obama Day is a commemorative holiday but not a paid holiday, so government employees continue to work.

Barack Hussein Obama's baby picture, Circa 1961.

President Barack Obama (born August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA - not Kenya, Africa) is one of three presidents from Illinois, the other two being Abraham Lincoln (born near Hodgenville, Kentucky) and Ronald Reagan (born in Tampico, Illinois).

NOTE: Perry County, Alabama, declared the second Monday of November to be Barack Obama Day.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.