A month of remembrance, freedom and shared civic life
WHY AUGUST?
August connects emancipation, resistance, independence, civil rights and the continuing work of building freer communities across the Caribbean, Canada, the United States and Britain.
Why this month matters
August holds an extraordinary concentration of dates associated with abolition, emancipation, freedom movements and Black achievement. Marking the month creates a welcoming public framework in which schools, governments, cultural organisations and communities can learn and celebrate together.
1834
Emancipation took effect across much of the British Empire on August 1, following the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.
1791
The Haitian Revolution began in August, reshaping the history of freedom across the Atlantic world.
1963
The March on Washington took place on August 28, linking historic struggle with modern civil rights.
August in public life
The Toronto City Hall flag raising shows what August can look like: a civic occasion grounded in history and open to everyone.
The meaning of the flag
Elder Shadrock Porter explains the history and purpose carried by the Remember The 400 flag.
The founder’s historical case
In Virginia in 2019, Elder Shadrock Porter spoke about the journey behind Remember The 400 and the importance of carrying history into public memory.
Freedom Month FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is August Freedom Month?
August Freedom Month is an annual observance championed by Remember The 400. It sets August aside as a shared month of remembrance, education, celebration and community action connected to the long struggle for freedom across Africa, the Caribbean, Canada, the United States and Britain.
Why August?
August holds an exceptional concentration of freedom milestones. The first recorded Africans arrived at Point Comfort, Virginia, in late August 1619. Emancipation took effect across much of the British Empire on August 1, 1834. The Haitian Revolution began in August 1791, and the March on Washington took place on August 28, 1963.
How is Freedom Month different from Black History Month?
Black History Month is marked in February in Canada and the United States and in October in the United Kingdom. February was chosen to honour the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, yet neither month holds the defining moments of emancipation itself. August does, from the arrival of the first recorded Africans at Point Comfort in 1619 to emancipation across the British Empire on August 1, 1834. Freedom Month gives the whole African diaspora, on every side of the Atlantic, one shared month rooted in that history.
What does “Remember The 400” refer to?
The name refers to the 400 years since 1619, when more than twenty captive Africans arrived at Point Comfort in present-day Hampton, Virginia. Their arrival became a defining marker in the history of people of African descent in what would become the United States.
Who founded Remember The 400?
Remember The 400 was founded by Elder Shadrock Porter. The foundation is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with chapters in the United States and the United Kingdom.
How can I support Freedom Month?
You can volunteer, join or start a chapter, partner with us, sign the Freedom Month petition or make a donation.