- This event has passed.
1619 Commemoration of the First Enslaved African Landing
August 28, 2022 @ 6:00 am - 6:00 pm
FreeFriday, August 26 – Descendent Engagement Virtual Roundtable
Dr. Elizabeth Chew Interim Chief Executive Officer of James Madison’s Montpelier and Jeannine Compton-Antoine of the St. Lucia National Trust will explore “Descendant Engagement and Remembrance in the Age of Climate Change – Connecting International Sites of Enslavement in the Critical Times” a collaboration supported by the Association of African American Museums, the National Park Foundation, and the International National Trusts Organization Re-Imagining Sites of Enslavement initiative. Descendants, museum professionals, scholars and attendees are invited to ask questions and share what they are doing to connect communities to the spirit of place and global histories. Click here to register.
Saturday, August 27 – Main Ceremony
At 10 am, there will be a Recognition and Commitment ceremony at the future site of the African Landing Memorial. Granite stones from the fortress walls have been set as temporary benches and a “Line to Angola” will be in the landscape.
The main commemoration ceremony will be held at 11 am at Fort Monroe Continental Park and will feature keynote speaker Professor and Civil Rights Attorney Dr. Gloria J. Browne-Marshall. There will be a bell ringing ceremony at 12 noon and African dance, drum performances and flower processional. The Evolution of Freedom concert featuring Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra will begin at 2:30 pm.
Sunday, August 28 – Healing Day
At 6 a.m. there will be a Naming and Cleansing Ceremony at Outlook Beach, at 8:30 a.m. a 3.1 Mile Walk/Run for Healing starting at Outlook Beach and at 10:30 a.m. a Public Drum Circle and Time of Reflection. At 5 pm there will be a Virtual Restorative Yoga and Meditation with Kleidi Jeen. Click here to register for ALD Embodied Yoga.
The 1619 Commemoration of the First Enslaved African Landing events are free and open to the public. For more information visit fortmonroe.org