New York Celebrates African Burial Ground

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

When the $1.2 million African Burial Ground Memorial is completed in Portsmouth, NH it will be only the second site of its kind. The New York City site will celebrate its 20th anniversary this week October 4-8, 2011 and many locals will be visiting that hallowed spot. Here is official schedule of events. (Continued below)

 

 

See New York City Burial Ground
20th anniversary celebration schedule below

 

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

10:30AM: Film Series — Eric V. Tait, Jr., director of the film, “Then I’ll

Be Free to Travel Home,” will conduct a screening of the documentary, and

provide commentary about the making of the film. Part 2 (56 min.) of the

film will be shown. A question and answer period will follow the screening

of the film. RSVP required (212) 637-2019

 

NOON: 60 Seconds of Silence: The African Burial Ground National Monument

will honor the lives of the estimated 15,000 enslaved and free Africans and

African descendants who are buried in the African Burial Ground cemetery by

observing 60 seconds of silence at 12 noon on each day of Youth Week

(October 4-8, 2011). During this time frame, everyone is encouraged to

stop, think and reflect upon the lives of those who are buried in the

African Burial Ground and the horrors of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

 

12:15PM: Gallery Talk — “The Slave Revolt of 1741”

1:00PM: Children’s Story Time

2:00PM: An Introduction to Ancient and Early African Writing Systems and

the Philosophical Language of Adinkra by Pat Leonard. RSVP required (212)

637-2019

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

 

11:00AM: Workshop presentation on other rediscovered African Burial

Grounds. RSVP required (212) 637-2019

NOON: 60 Seconds of Silence

NOON: Children’s Story Time

1:00PM: Film Series — “George Washington Carver” (29 min.)

2:00PM: Rev. Pat Singletary from the Harlem African Burial Ground Project.

RSVP required (212) 637-2019

Thursday, October 6, 2011

11:00AM: A workshop on “Proverbs, Aphorisms and Mother Wits— Learning from

the Wisdom of Ancestors and Elders” by Pat Leonard. RSVP required (212)

637-2019

NOON: 60 Seconds of Silence

12:30PM: “For Freedom’s Sake” — A first-person presentation by Nicola and

Rufus James about the African presence in New York during the 18th Century.

RSVP required (212) 637-2019

1:00PM: Children’s Story Time

2:00PM: Children’s Entertainment: face painting, a magician and animal

balloons

3:00PM: Gallery Talk—Burial Practices and Pinkster

3:30PM: Film Series — “The Maggie Walker Story” (12 min.)

 

Friday, October 7, 2011

10:45AM: F.R.E.E.D.O.M. Academy performance

11:00AM: Ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the rediscovery of

the African Burial Ground

NOON: 60 Seconds of Silence

1:00 PM onward — “Ceremony of Receiving African Names” conducted by Queen

Mother Dr. Delois Blakely for the general public.

1:15PM: African Drum and Dance performance by F.R.E.E.D.O.M. Academy

1:30-4PM: Exhibit on slavery in New York in the visitor center. Gene

Peters, the exhibit’s curator and an African Burial Ground NM volunteer,

will be on-hand to answer questions.

2:00PM: Film Series — Shawn Utsey will conduct a screening of his

documentary, “Meet Me in the Bottom” (45 min.) a film about the Richmond

Burial Ground in Virginia. A question and answer period will follow the

screening. RSVP required (212) 637-2019

4:30PM: Carolyn Evans will bring history alive through first-person

interpretation of two African-American women who changed the world: Harriet

Tubman and Sojourner Truth. RSVP required (212) 637-2019

6:00PM: Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy (The name Ifetayo comes from the West

African Yoruba word meaning, “love is enough for joy”) youth will provide a

spirited performance incorporating African dance, drum and song.

6:30PM: Universal Creative Arts Ensemble-Universal African Dance and Drum

Ensemble — traditional African songs, instruments, dance and stilt walker

7:15PM: Performance by the African Caribbean group Something Positive, Inc.

(30 minute performance)

*Memorial and Visitor Center will remain open until 8:00PM

 

Saturday, October 8, 2011

10:00AM: Libation ceremony with Gregory Carr featuring a drum circle

11:00AM: Family Memory Box Workshop. RSVP required (212) 637-2019

NOON: 60 Seconds of Silence

1:00PM: Poetry Slam, “A Shout Out to the Ancestors”

2:00PM: Red Storm Drum and Dance Troupe — This program offers insight into

Native American history, art and music. It also showcases the music and

dance traditions of America’s indigenous nations.

6:30PM: Candle lit “A Broader View” walking tour will leave from Federal

Hall National Memorial and conclude at African Burial Ground National

Monument’s outdoor memorial. RSVP required (212) 637-2019

6:30PM: Candle lit “Abolitionist” walking tour will leave from African

Burial National Monument and conclude at the site’s outdoor memorial. RSVP

required (212) 637-2019

 

All events are free. Schedule is subject to change.