It was 1878 and domestic workers at the White House toiled all day Easter Sunday to ensure President Hayes and his family enjoyed the holiday. At least they could look forward to having the next day off, but there was a catch.
On Easter Monday, children were invited to the Easter Egg Roll, storytime, and games on the White House lawn. But Black children weren’t welcome, even if their parents were the ones who kept the White House running smoothly. So as usual, we created something much better for ourselves.
The White House’s Black domestic workers started taking their children to the Smithsonian National Zoo on Easter Monday. They celebrated with their own games, food, music, and of course, an even fancier Easter egg roll.
Now Easter Monday is considered an unofficial Black holiday, and families from across the United States, not just those who work at the White House, enjoy a celebration of Black culture and community, free of charge.
We don’t need acceptance in white spaces to validate us. When we are in those spaces, we don’t have to tolerate substandard treatment. Imagine if we took the same Easter Monday energy and created accepting spaces for each other. What kind of future can we build?