FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2015
Contact: Ryan Downey, 757/728-5328
[email protected]
Calvin Pearson, 757/380-1319
[email protected]
Arrival of First Enslaved Africans in the English Colony of Virginia
Commemorated in Hampton, Virginia August 20-22
--Events to take place at The American Theatre and Fort Monroe National Monument-Hampton, VA- This August 20-22, honor the First Africans who arrived in North
America on English occupied territory at Point Comfort (Fort Monroe) at the Fifth annual
African Landing Day Commemoration, a program being presented by the City of
Hampton, Project 1619 Inc., and National Juneteenth Observance Foundation.
This year’s program will include a Project 1619 African Diaspora Film Festival,
Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour’s in “Return To Goree”, a musical odyssey tracing
the trail left by slaves and the jazz music they invented. Panelists will discuss how
African music has influenced America’s music and the impact it has had on blues, jazz,
spirituals, hip hop and rap; a Virginia Juneteenth Jazz & Heritage Reconciliation &
Healing Concert featuring Reverend Ron Myers Sr. MD, jazz legends Todd Ledbetter
and Herman Burney, and Bob Ransom Jr., and Junie McDonald; the Fifth annual World
Day of Reconciliation & Healing from the Legacy of Enslavement Prayer Service;
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Arrival of First Enslaved Africans in the English Colony of Virginia
Commemorated in Hampton, Virginia August 20-22- Page 2
African Landing Day Commemoration program featuring a libation, drumming, and
dancers. In addition there will be a rededication by the Department of Historic Resources
of a marker at Fort Monroe designating it as the official site of the arrival of the first
Africans brought to English North America.
The events will take place at The American Theatre and Fort Monroe. The cost for each
activity varies from free to $20.00.
Fifth annual African Landing Day Commemoration 2015 Schedule
Thursday, August 20
12:00 Noon
Fifth annual World Day of Reconciliation & Healing from the Legacy of
Enslavement, Prayer Service. Performance by Musical Mosaic (Hampton Parks &
Recreation Programming Arts Program). Church congregations and choirs are welcome
to participate. FREE.
5:00 p.m.
Dedication of Department of Historic Resources Highway Marker designating Point
Comfort as the landing site of the first Africans. Local, State, and Federal officials, as
well as representatives from the African nations will be in attendance. FREE.
6:00 p.m. (originally 5:30 p.m.)
African Landing Day Commemoration includes a Libation, Drumming & Dancers to
honor the arrival and legacy of the first Africans in English North America. FREE.
All Events on Thursday, August 20 at:
Continental Park, 4 Fenwick Rd
Fort Monroe
Hampton, VA 23651
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Arrival of First Enslaved Africans in the English Colony of Virginia
Commemorated in Hampton, Virginia August 20-22- Page 3
Friday, August 21
7:00 p.m.
Project 1619 African Diaspora Film Festival. Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour’s in
“Return To Goree,” a musical odyssey tracing the trail left by slaves and the jazz music
they invented. Meet and greet with dignitaries from African nations.
Adults
Children under 16
$10
$5
The American Theatre
125 E. Mellen Street
Hampton, VA 23663
Saturday, August 22
7:00 pm
Fifth annual Virginia Juneteenth Jazz & Heritage Reconciliation & Healing
Concert featuring pianist Rev. Ron Myers SR. MD, jazz legends Saxophonist Todd
Ledbetter and bassist Herman Burney, Bob Ransom Jr., and Junie McDonald.
$20.00
Purchase tickets at The American Theatre, Hampton Coliseum, or Ticketmaster.
The American Theatre
125 E. Mellen Street
Hampton, VA 23663
For further information on the Fifth annual African Landing Day Commemoration,
contact Calvin Pearson at 757/380-1319 or Reverend Ron Myers at 662/392-2016.
Additional information can be found at www.project1619.org or
www.juneteenthjazz.com.
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Arrival of First Enslaved Africans in the English Colony of Virginia
Commemorated in Hampton, Virginia August 20-22- Page 4
Project 1619, Inc. is a national non-profit organization based in Hampton, Virginia
dedicated to remembering and honoring the first Africans that arrived on English
occupied territory in 1619, at what is now Old Point Comfort on Fort Monroe. In 2019,
the City of Hampton and Project 1619 will commemorate the 400th anniversary of this
arrival. The organization is in the process of raising funds, with the hope of building a
national monument in time for the anniversary. For more info, visit
www.project1619.org.
Partially bordered by the Hampton Roads harbor and Chesapeake Bay, Hampton, with
the 344,000 sq. ft. Hampton Roads Convention Center, is located in the center of the
Hampton Roads metropolitan area. Hampton is the site of America's first continuous
English-speaking settlement and is home to such visitor attractions as the Virginia Air &
Space Center and Riverside IMAX ® Theater, Hampton Maritime Center, Hampton
History Museum, harbor tours and cruises, Hampton University Museum, Fort Monroe,
award-winning Hampton Coliseum, The American Theatre, among others.
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