Media Release
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2016
Contact: Ryan Downey, 757/728-5328
[email protected]
Mary Fugere 757/728-5327
[email protected]
African Arrival Day events August 19-21, 2016 commemorate
400th anniversary of first Africans’ arrival in English North America
--Fort Monroe among sites of commemorative events this August-Hampton, Virginia- In 2019, join the global commemoration of the 400th anniversary of
four pivotal happenings in English North America’s Virginia colony: the arrival of the
first Africans, the arrival of women, convening of the first General Assembly, and
celebration of the first Thanksgiving. The first African arrival occurred at Point Comfort
in 1619, the present site of Fort Monroe National Monument in present-day Hampton,
Virginia.
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African Arrival Day events August 19-21, 2016 commemorate 400th anniversary of
first Africans’ arrival in English North America- Page 2
The Virginia 2019 Commemoration, the City of Hampton, Fort Monroe Authority, and
the National Park Service invite the public to participate in commemoration activities on
August 19-21, 2016 in recognition of the first arrival of Africans in English North
America.
This community event will include musical performances from the Jae Sinnett Trio,
Rhythm Project, and Strictly Bizzness; tours of the Godspeed; a play entitled “Crossing a
Deep River: A Ritual Drama in Three Movements” at Thomas Nelson Community
College; dance performances from Iris Middleton Academy Dance and Beauty for Ashes
Dance Theater and Company; historical tours; storytelling with Dylan Pritchett and Dr.
Margaret Bristow; youth activities; and a feature film entitled “Motherland”. The event
will give away a limited amount items to include DNA tests sponsored by Family Tree
DNA, historical children’s books, and ice cream.
2016 Schedule of Events
Friday, August 19, 2016
11:00 a.m. – William Tucker Cemetery - Historic marker dedication
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Godspeed Public Tours – located at Hampton Public Pier on the
downtown waterfront. The Godspeed will sail down from Jamestown to offer guests an
opportunity to tour a vessel from the early 17th century.
12:00 p.m. – WHRO taping “Another View” live at Fort Monroe hosted by Barbara
Hamm Lee.
7:00 p.m. – Crossing a Deep River: A Ritual Drama in Three Movements at Thomas
Nelson Community College’s Mary T. Christian Auditorium. This original play will
educate the community about African Culture, the Middle Passage, and the humanity of
the African Story. The play is written by Dr. Joanne Braxton and sponsored by the City
of Hampton 2019 Commemorative Commission. Admission fee applies.
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African Arrival Day events August 19-21, 2016 commemorate 400th anniversary of
first Africans’ arrival in English North America- Page 3
Saturday, August 20, 2016
8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Commemorative Ceremony at Continental Park Bandstand
presented by Project 1619
 African Naming Ceremony
 Prayer Service
 African Arrival Ceremony including African Dancers and Drummers
10:30 a.m. – Casemate Museum opens featuring a new Contraband Exhibit. Visit the
courtyard for Storytelling with Dr. Margaret Bristow featuring the reading of “Henry’s
Freedom Box” and “Under the Freedom Tree”.
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. –Continental Park and other areas around Fort Monroe
Bring your family out to enjoy a day of educational activities featuring African Dancers
and Drummers, first-person interpreters of African-American historical figures, African
storytelling with Dylan Pritchett, period demonstrations in blacksmithing, camp cooking,
sewing and embroidery. Your children will enjoy making their own cowry shell jewelry,
learning about the 1619 arrival story, and taking a living history tour that highlights the
accomplishments of African Americans over the last four centuries.
Live Musical Performances – Continental Park Bandstand-Featuring the Jae Sinnett
Trio, Rhythm Project, Strictly Bizzness Band, EMA music group, and Musical Mosaic.
Dance Performances – Youth Area Continental Park-Featuring Iris Middleton Academy
Dance and African Dance Lessons from Dr. Tarin Hampton of NSU Dance Theater.
Living History Tours – Various Locations at Fort Monroe- Featuring first-person
interpretation of Antonio and Isabella, Caesar Tarrant, the Contraband Story, and Harriett
Tubman.
12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Welcome Ceremony- Continental Park Bandstand
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Godspeed Sail-by with cannon blast
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. - Fort Monroe Theater
Feature Film-“Motherland”
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African Arrival Day events August 19-21, 2016 commemorate 400th anniversary of
first Africans’ arrival in English North America- Page 4
Guest Speaker
Community Talent Showcase-Featuring youth performances from Middleton Academy
Dance and Beauty for Ashes Dance and Theater Company.
7:00 p.m. – Juneteenth Jazz Concert at The American Theatre – presented by Project
1619, sponsored by Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau. Donation requested.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
5:00 p.m. – Project 1619 African Diaspora Film Program at The American Theatre,
presented by Project 1619 and sponsored by Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau.
Featuring the film “Bound – African vs African Americans.” Donation requested.
For more information on this 2016 event, as well as the Hampton VA 2019
Commemorative Commission, visit www.hamptonva2019 or
www.africanarrivalday.com.
Partially bordered by the Hampton Roads harbor and Chesapeake Bay, Hampton, with
the 344,000 sq. ft. Hampton Roads Convention Center and the award-winning Hampton
Coliseum, is located in the center of Coastal Virginia and the Hampton Roads
metropolitan area. Hampton is the site of America's first continuous English-speaking
settlement, the site of the first arrival of Africans in English North America, and is home
to such visitor attractions as the Virginia Air & Space Center, Fort Monroe National
Monument, Hampton History Museum, harbor tours and cruises, Hampton University
Museum, The American Theatre, among others.
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