In 1955, New Hampshire Governor Lane Dwinell would declare 20th February Amos Fortune Day.
We join in this celebration of an exemplar of resilience and good citizenship.
We have reproduced the text of Governor Dwinell’s declaration below.
WHEREAS, AMOS FORTUNE, Negro, born in 1710 free in Africa, made a slave and sold in America, did by the strength of his character and by his industry surmount almost impossible obstacles to become a free and distinguished citizen of Nev‘ Hampshire, and
WHEREAS, said AMOS FORTUNE, though for many years a slave, did acquire an education above average for his time, did become an expert tanner and did purchase freedom for himself and three other slaves, and
WHEREAS AMOS FORTUNE did not only by his life exemplify the highest obligations of good citizenship but on his death in 1801 did bequeath to the church and school of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, sums of money to be used in the furtherance of religion and education, and
WHEREAS, the day, February 20, is part of America’s Negro History Week and American Brotherhood Week
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Lane Dwinell, Governor of the State of New Hampshire, in behalf of our people, do proclaim the day February 20, 1955 to be AMOS FORTUNE DAY, and I do call upon the citizens of New Hampshire to consider on that day their obligations of tolerance and good citizenship.
For more on Amos Fortune, please see last Friday’s post
For more on Negro History Week, see our post on the origins of Black History Month.
