PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
August 22, 2022
Contact:
Isaac Owusu
info@vtracialjusticealliance.org
(Burlington, VT) -- Today the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance (VRJA) announced the upcoming Vermont First African Landing Day and the return of the 1619 Traveling Exhibit.
This year marks the Fourth Annual Vermont First African Landing Day! Themed "We Come This Far By Faith" the Commemoration will be at Intervale Center on August 27th from noon till 6:00 PM. The 2022 theme reflects the role that faith has played in the lives of American Descendants of Slavery in their journey from 1619 to present day. FREE tickets can be found at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-annual-vermont-first-african-landing-day-tickets-401634177637 Additional information on the event, support, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities can be found here: https://firstafricanlandingvt.org/commemorative-events/ GRAMMY Award Nominee and Stellar Award Winner Cortez Vaughn is featured and the Keynote Speaker will be Bishop Dwayne Royster, the Founder of the Society for Faith and Justice, an ecumenical religious order committed to a charism of social justice as a spiritual discipline and spiritual practice. There will be traditional food, music, dancing, speakers, exhibits and more.
Drawing on the latest research, the 1619 Traveling Exhibit tells the story of Africans from Angola to Virginia. It was designed to honor the spirit of the 400 Year African American History Commission. The 1619 Traveling Exhibit opens today at the Richard Kemp Center from 5:00 PM till 7:00 PM. The exhibit will remain open to the community from 5:00 PM till 7:00 PM Tuesday, August 23rd through Thursday, August 25th at the same times. It will also be featured at Vermont First African Landing Day.
First African Landing Day was initiated by VRJA in 2019 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 had [have] on the United States; and to educate the public about the arrival of Africans in the United States and the contributions of African-Americans to the United States. Rev Mark Hughes, Executive Director of VRJA said "First African Landing Day is not just about Black Cultural Empowerment. It's about a day that changed the world for all of us - Forever. This is not just a day for Black folks, it is a day that we should have aspirations for everyone to ultimately commemorate."
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About the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance
The mission of the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance is to secure sustainable power, ensure agency and provide security for American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS), while embracing their history and preserving their culture.
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