Emancipation Day is celebrated on August 1st in many countries around the world, including Canada, Guyana, and several Caribbean nations. This day commemorates the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1834, although it took several more years for newly freed slaves to gain true autonomy and dignity. Emancipation Day is a time to reflect on the struggles and triumphs of displaced Africans and to celebrate the resurgence of the African spirit. It is a day to remember the contributions of the Black community and to recognize the ongoing international struggle for human rights and freedom from repression for persons of all races.