The TIES That Bind...Never Shall We Forget...Remembrance June 9, 2018

The Sankofa Projects' 7th Annual Sankofa Day of Remembrance at Buckroe Beach We gathered at the Waters edge... 442 human beings of diverse backgrounds, a myriad of hues, various histories and experiences...all sharing a common thread...a respect for those beloved Ancestors, the millions of Africans who perished on the Middle Passage and during the Transatlantic Enslavement Trade...we gathered to honor them. We circled our Tree of Remembrance, which had been cut down to a stump. Like the tree, we know just as the Africans were removed from Africa, transplanted to a new place, their roots remained intact, the roots remain strong. We, like the tree, with roots strong... we reached back and fetched our traditional African ways of drum, dance, pouring libations and placing flowers in the water to honor them. Beautiful expressions of song and dance, poetry and words on Domestic Violence and remarks from US congressman Bobby Scott, who has shown support of Remembrance the past two years filled the time and space. My work, for the past almost 3 decades has been rooted in giving voice to the untold stories and neglected narratives like that of the Middle Passage. June 9th, 2018 was a Day of Remembrance of the lives lost and for this untold history of what happened to the Africans who fought at the shores when the European traders arrived and those who never made it off the enslavement ships alive. My hand was raised showing the ascot of my beloved Father that I tied on my wrist. My father became an Ancestor on April 22nd and he was always by my side at Remembrance...and in life. I wore this scarf on my left wrist in Remembrance of him. Fist and Flowers raised for our beloveds and our continued Resistance against oppression, discrimination, racism and a disregard for HUMANITY. Remembrance was a beautiful coming together of our community acknowledging this painful past, celebrating our culture with hopes that we can eventually heal and move forward towards a better future. www.thesankofaprojects.blogspot.com

7th Year HONORING our ANCESTORS at REMEMBRANCE ~ Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 11am Buckroe Beach in Hampton, VA

Port Hampton Lecture "...Dying, but Fighting Back: The Myth of African Docility" by Chadra Pittman Walke at the Hampton History Museum

"A liasion between the scholarly and the grass roots community" is how Chadra Pittman Walke, Founder and Executive Director of The Sankofa Projects describes herself. From her time at the NY African Burial Ground Project t her present day work, Pittman Walke has spent nearly three decades committed to public education, community engagement and ancestral work. "Information serves no purpose if it only sits in the ivory towers of academia; the community, the activists and grass roots folk must be engaged in the conversation and have several seats at the table." Pittman Walke states.

For the 3rd year in a row, Chadra Pittman Walke has presented lectures to accompany Sankofa's Annual Remembrance ceremony on Buckroe Beach. "Providing lectures on Remembrance is important; as it contextualizes the ceremony beyond the spiritual which is experienced on the beach and offers the historical and scholarly perspectives which is crucial to a full understanding the meaning behind this historic event." says Pittman Walke. In 2015 and 2016, the lectures were presented at the Slover Library in Norfolk with a Media exhibit to accompany it and this year she will present at the Hampton History Museum.

In preparation for Remembrance Day 2018 on June 9, join Chadra Pittman Walke, founder & executive director of The Sankofa Projects, for ““Dying, but fighting back”: The Myth of African Docility, The Truth of the Massacre in the Middle Passage & Restoring Black Humanity through Sacred Spaces like Remembrance.” Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe once said that “Until the lion has its historian, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.” In this case, Chadra is the historian, the lions are the untold stories of the African Diaspora, and the hunters have historically told only their version of the story. Chadra Pittman Walke is working diligently to change that paradigm so that the untold stories of these Africans and their contributions to America and beyond find their rightful place within the annals of history.

Like the name of her organization, Sankofa, which translates as “reach back and fetch it,” Chadra invites you on a journey back through time during this lecture. Travelling from the shores of Africa to today, unlearn the myths of African docility and that current events are impacted by slavery and the untold history of the Middle Passage and African Diaspora. This program is free to museum members, $5 for non-members.

For more information about Remembrance Day 2018, visit: https://tinyurl.com/ydgo9ubs The Hampton History Museum is located at 120 Old Hampton Lane in Downtown Hampton. There is free parking in the garage across the street from the museum. For more information call 757-727-1102. Image Courtesy of The Sankofa Projects Visit Hampton, Virginia!, Hampton, VA - Gov #REMEMBRANCE #TheSANKOFAProjects

Join us for Sankofa's 7th YEAR HONORING OUR ANCESTORS and giving voice to this untold chapter in American and Global history. Hope to see you at BUCKROE Beach where we will gather to honor our BELOVED Ancestors who perished in the Middle Passage and paid the ultimate price for their freedom. Sage burns...Ashe.Aho.🖤 #THESANKOFAProjects