NAAM’s Freedom Day is a free monthly event celebrating history, culture, and community. Each Freedom Day features special programs, activities, and museum access for all ages—at no cost. We use Freedom Day as an opportunity to highlight key moments in the ongoing fight for freedom and equity.
Click here to learn more about this month’s Freedom Day and how you can take part.
On December 5, 1935, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), a transformative moment in American history that united Black women’s organizations under one powerful banner. Building on her lifelong dedication to education and civic engagement, Bethune created the NCNW to amplify the voices of African American women, promote social justice, and shape national policy. With decades of leadership experience, including the founding of her own school in Daytona Beach, Florida, and service as a government advisor, Bethune believed that lasting change required collective power. Through the NCNW, she provided a platform for women to lead, vote, organize, and advocate for a more just and equitable future. Her vision laid the foundation for the modern Civil Rights Movement and continues to inspire generations of changemakers.
