Thank you to all who joined us for the 2020 Commemoration of the First African Landing special virtual program. This year’s event featured Governor Ralph Northam, Congresswoman Elaine Luria and Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck. Through an Annual Libation Ceremony, drum & dance performances, interactive community conversations and a virtual chalk the wall we were able to honor the events that took place at Old Point Comfort 401 years ago. In case you missed it, the program can be viewed virtually on Fort Monroe’s Youtube channel.

Community Quilt

Be a part of our Community Quilt commemorating the 401st African Landing Day. This is an opportunity for you to give your voice to the conversation and let yourself be heard. To contribute a “digital patch” please take a moment to reflect on those who landed on the shores of Old Point Comfort in 1619. Then using a medium/media of your choosing respond to the question “What does freedom mean to me?” Be creative. Suggested responses can be in the form of a drawing, poetry, spoken word, a video short (less than 30 seconds) or written response. However, whatever form of media your patch may be, we ask that it can be uploaded digitally via social media (i.e. take a picture of your drawing to upload). Then share your “digital patch” by posting on your own Instagram or Facebook page and tagging us at #fortmonroe @fortmonroeatoldfortcomfort. Patches can be created as a group, family or individually. Please post/share your “digital patch” by no later than October 31. Dependent on the types of responses, we hope to capture the communities collective voice by “stitching” together responses into one large digital community quilt.

Virtual Town Hall: Lifting Your Voice–1619 and the Power of Collaboration

The Association of African American Museums and the Fort Monroe partners hosted a virtual town hall discussion, “Lifting Your Voice: 1619 and the Power of Collaboration” on August 22, 2020 at 2 pm. This discussion explored the significance of 1619 addressed the theme, “reflect on the past, embrace change, and engage for the future.”

The first African landing in English North America occurred in 1619 when a vessel carrying “20 and odd” enslaved Africans arrived at Point Comfort (present-day Fort Monroe) in late August. As we honor and remember the arrival of first Africans to the Virginia Colony panelists Eola Dance, Acting Superintendent Fort Monroe National Monument; Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander, Dean of College of Liberal Arts at Norfolk State University; Glenn Oder, Executive Director of Fort Monroe Authority; and Calvin Pearson, Founder and President of Project 1619 reflected on this rich history and the making of America.