This Is American History.
HERandHIStory in Black is an educational initiative within Kasual Closet dedicated to preserving Black history through storytelling, research, and design.The stories shared here inspire our content, collections, and resources — creating meaningful ways to learn, remember, and carry history forward.
New Year’s Day: A History Not Often Taught
While New Year’s Day is often associated with celebration and new beginnings, its meaning was very different for many enslaved people in America.Known as Hiring Day or Heartbreak Day, January 1 marked the time when enslaved individuals were hired out or sold, often separating families for months or permanently.From Christmas through New Year’s Day, families waited in fear, uncertain of who would be taken and where they would go.This history is rarely included in traditional narratives of the holiday — yet it is part of American history.