Federal Commission Assembled to Commemorate 400 Years of
African American History
The federal commission
created to coordinate the nationwide commemoration of the
arrival of the first Africans to the English colonies in
North America will meet at the National Museum of African
American History and Culture in Washington on Wednesday,
February 13.
In 2019 the 400 Years of
African-American History Commission will commemorate the
400th anniversary of the arrival in August 1619 of the first
Africans to North America at Point Comfort, Virginia, at
what is now Fort Monroe National Monument, a unit of the
National Park System.
The
anniversary will serve as a
touchstone to plan, develop, and carry out programs and
activities throughout the United States to recognize and
highlight the contributions of African Americans since 1619.
It will encourage civic, patriotic, historical, educational,
artistic, religious, economic, and other organizations to
organize and participate in anniversary activities to expand
understanding and appreciation of the contributions of
African Americans.
Established by Congress and
appointed by the Secretary of the Interior in 2018, the
commission is comprised of 15 members recommended by
governors, members of Congress, civil rights and historical
organizations, and the Smithsonian Institution. It is
administered by the National Park Service.
The commission’s work will
highlight commemoration activities across the country
including the August opening of a new visitor center at Fort
Monroe National Monument, a partnership between the Fort
Monroe Authority and the National Park Service. Additional
events and programs are in development by the NPS, other
agencies, and partner organizations. As plans are finalized,
the commission hopes to have an online resource where the
public can learn more about how to participate in the
commemoration.
“This is a year of
celebrating the many great achievements of people of African
descent,” said commission chairman Dr. Joseph L. Green. “We
are celebrating a people who overcame adversity and
impossible odds. We want to use this moment to create
legacy, to build people and communities.”
The commission meeting on
February 13 will be held at the National Museum of African
American History and Culture at 15th Street and Constitution
Avenue NW in Washington. A public question and answer forum
about commemoration activities will be held as part of the
meeting from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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