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Event Details
As 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.
Program
Vermont First African Landing Day
August 28, 2021
The Vermont Racial Justice Alliance is happy to have the opportunity to bring the 2021 Vermont First African Landing Day program, “’Out of the Darkness: Into the Light.” More than ever we as a nation have come to see and understand systemic racism for what it is. The light has began to shine on the truth about our nations racist history revealing a consistent flow of empirical quantitative data detailing the current impact on Black people across all systems of government. This year Vermont First African Landing Day highlights the perspectives of our Elders, our Queens, our Youth and our Brothers on what it means to us to come out of the darkness and into the light, 402 years after the landing of the White Lion at Point Comfort!
Order of Events
Opening, prayer and “Lift Every Voice” Rev. Dr. Christopher Von Cockrell Rajnii Eddins 10:30 – 10:40 Introduction of Emcee - Jersey Moulin 10:40 - 10:45 Rajnii Eddins 10:45 – 10:55 From the Elders - Roy V. Hill II 10:55 – 11:20 Lake Champlain Mass Choir 11:20 – 11:50 From the Queens - Christine Hughes 11:50 – 12:20 ** Lunch ** Mikahely 12:20 PM – 12:35 PM Young Folks - Rachel Ambaye 12:35 – 1:05 SINNN 1:05 – 1:20 Harmony Edosomwan 1:20 PM – 1:30 PM A2VT 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM The Brothers - Shawn Pratt 1:50 PM – 2:15 PM KeruBo 2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Key Note & Commemoration Julz Noble Hamilton 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM The Original Moonlighters 3:00 PM – 4:20 PM Shout outs & Acknowledgements Conclusion 4:20 - 4:40 The Original Moonlighters Closeout 4:40 PM – 6:00 PM
Highlights include:
Wellness Space
Youth Center of Excellence
The True Black History Museum
Hampton History Museum “Toward Freedom” Traveling Exhibit
* Coffee starts at 10:00 AM
* Lunch starts at noon-ish
* Real Black History Museum is from 11:00 AM till 5:00 PM
* Rest and Recovery Area open all day
* Youth Area of Excellence open all day
Harmony’s Kitchen and The People’s Kitchen to provide food!
Get your tickets here:
* Program subject to change
400 Years of African American History 