Vermont First African Landing Day

180 Intervale Road,Burlington VT 05401

28 August, 2021

Description

Annual 1619-based tradition highlighting resilience and contribution of Black folks with food, stories, dance, drumming, music and love. Vermont First African Landing DayAs a continuation to the 400 Years African American History Commission’s mandate of recognizing and highlighting the resilience and contributions of African Americans since 1619, the Racial Justice Alliance presents the Third Annual Vermont First African Landing Day – Out of Darkness: Into the Light The Vermont First African Landing Day “2021” theme “Out of Darkness, Into the Light” highlights our journey as one that demands we learn and teach the truth about our national history; pursue, correlate and share the quantitative data that articulates the true past and current adverse impact on the lives of American Descendants of Slavery; and, demand reparative approaches to address these crimes against humanity. This will be an all day event with traditional food, storytelling, dance, drumming, musical performances, and more. The “True Black History Museum” will be featured throughout the day. The net proceeds from this event will be donated to fund the Burlington Cultural Empowerment Center. The Racial Justice Alliance recently announced the vision for the Cultural Empowerment Center in their Operation Phoenix R.I.S.E. platform. “Located central to those it serves, the Cultural Empowerment Center will serve as a bastion of hope, purpose and vision for the disempowered community.” The day starts with coffee at 10:00 AM. This marks what is arguably the most important day in the history of this nation and indeed the world. The arrival of Africans on what was then so called English colonial soil introduced a people that would not only serve as the vanguard in the fight for human rights and justice but serve to shape the world as we know it. As 1619 begins to tell the true story of who Black people are as a people, so it informs us of who we are as a nation. So the tradition of commemorating the contribution and resilience of people of African descent continues in Vermont as does the hope and the promise of our future. The Event2021 Main stage program planning continues (look for updates here) Highlights include: Wellness SpaceYouth Center of ExcellenceThe True Black History MuseumHampton History Museum “Toward Freedom” Traveling ExhibitDC’s #1 Motown and variety band “The Original Moonlighters”CommemorationKeynote – Rev. Dr. William Barber of Poor People’s Campaign, A National Call for Moral Revival and Repairers of the Breach invitedCoffee starts at 10:00 AM The Original Moonlighters close out at 6:00 PM Harmony’s Kitchen to provide the soul food! * Program subject to change See the full program here: https://firstafricanlandingvt.wordpress.com/agenda/ History of African Landing DayAs recorded by English colonist John Rolfe, the arrival of “20 and odd” African men and women in late August 1619, was a pivotal moment in the nation’s history. These Africans were stolen by English privateers from a Spanish slave ship and brought to Point Comfort on a ship called the White Lion. African Landing Day does not celebrate the circumstances surrounding the arrival of the first Africans to our shores. The Vermont Racial Justice Alliance hosted inaugural Vermont First African Landing Day on August 24, 2019. This commemoration was established to recognize and highlight the resilience and contributions of African-Americans since 1619; to acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination have on the United States; and to educate the public about the arrival of Africans in the United States. This event included food, storytelling, dance, drumming, musical performances, and featured a commemorative ceremony. On August 24, 2019 Governor Philip B. Scott proclaimed August 24th First African Landing Day in Vermont, proclaiming that “All in the State of Vermont are encouraged to learn about the Commemoration of the First African Landing Day to expand understanding and appreciation of the significance of the arrival of Africans in the United States; and the contributions of African Americans in the United States. The 4th Saturday of August shall be henceforth recognized and Commemorated as First African Landing Day in Vermont” On August 22, 2020, challenged with the COVID-19 Global Pandemic the Racial Justice Alliance hosted the second annual First African Landing Day at Intervale Center Burlington, Vermont. This event was widely streamed and featured Dr. Wanda Heading Grant, then Vice President, Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, University of Vermont as Key Note Speaker. Net proceeds from the event went to the New Alpha Missionary Baptist Church Building Fund, the only church in Vermont, worshiping in the African American tradition. This year, the tradition continues with the third annual First African Landing Day – Out of Darkness: Into the Light!