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Today commemorates National Freedom Day—an observance that honors the signing of a resolution that proposed the 13th amendment to the United States Constitution on February 1, 1865. President Abraham Lincoln signed the resolution to outlaw slavery.

Major Richard Robert Wright Senior, a former slave who founded the National Freedom Day Association, played a crucial role in creating the observance. Major Wright—a community leader in Philadelphia who was active in education, the media, business and politics—hoped to see a day that would be dedicated to celebrating freedom for all Americans. That day came with the first commemoration on February 1, 1942. Then in 1948, President Harry Truman signed a bill to proclaim February 1 as the first official National Freedom Day in the United States.

So, what does National Freedom Day mean to me? Over the past few years, I’ve learned a lot about my privilege as a white guy…and Tim Wise’s White Like Me was instrumental in the beginning of my journey.

Click here for an overview of Tim Wise’s “Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son”

Judges 2:10 – “After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what He had done for Israel.”

Following success, it’s easy to kick back and rest, to assume that current knowledge and achievements will foster future success. That’s a dangerous attitude. Unfortunately, it’s the one that the ancient Israelites adopted after the death of Joshua and his generation. And that’s why week four of the NIV Leadership Bible year-long study focuses on the importance of leading a learning organization.

When nations, organizations, or teams stop learning, they’re setting themselves up for failure. “Those who don’t learn from history are destined to repeat it” summarizes the situation the Israelites faced in the book of Judges.

God used Josiah to bring about radical reform to the nation of Israel.

Click here for more about what Josiah did and other lessons we can learn from Jim Collins’ How the Mighty Fall

National Freedom Day 2014: A White Guy’s Perspective

Leading a Learning Organization: Preventing Decline through “Openness”

Judges 2:10 – “After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what He had done for Israel.”