Aug. 18-19 at Ft. Monroe African Landing Day Festival

HAMPTON
The City of Hampton and Project 1619 Inc. will be commemorating the first landing of enslaved Africans in English North America August 18-19, 2017. This will mark the 10th Annual African Landing Day Commemoration Festival on the grounds of Fort Monroe.

This event honors the arrival of the Africans who were brought to territory at Point Comfort (now Fort Monroe) on the shores of Virginia on August 25, 1619. Their arrival marked the beginning of servitude that would last 246 years.

Activities include a film on Friday night at the American Theatre, 125 Mellen Street, Hampton, at 7 p.m. with a discussion following on the theme of racial biases. Fee: Adults $10; children $5.

On Saturday, at 11 a.m., at Continental Park on Fort Monroe, a traditional African naming ceremony will take place. Free.

At noon, the 7th Annual Pilgrimage Prayer, featuring Rev. Ronald Myers, Founder of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, will be held. Free.

The day’s events and activities continue with performances of drum, dance and performing arts groups.

At 7 p.m., at the American Theatre, an African-American Heritage Jazz Concert featuring legendary jazz artists will be held. Fee: $20.

For more information, go to www.project1619.org or call (757) 380-1319. Calvin Pearson is the Founder of Project 1619.