Breaking Ground to Unearth our Past From the NY African Burial Ground to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens: Groundbreaker's 2019 Ceremony

On Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 11:00am, the Norfolk Botanical Garden (NBG) honored the 200 African American women and 20 African American men who literally broke ground, cut down trees, cleared what was a swamp land and warded off snakes to create the beautiful Norfolk Botanical Gardens. They worked year round, through the harsh winters and unbearably hot summers so they could plant the beautiful azaleas which we enjoy today. After the Garden was complete, these 220 African Americans were not allowed to visit the garden and enjoy the beauty they created because of the racist laws of Jim Crow segregation.

11 years ago, the NBG decided that they would honor these people, referred to as Ground breakers, who are now all Ancestors. Annually, they have a ceremony and bring the families of those Groundbreakers together to honor what these 220 people gave to the city of Norfolk. This has been an untold story of the history of Norfolk and of the Garden which the NBG does not want to be buried any longer.

The story of the Gardner's moved me as many of you know my Anthropologicial work began with a literal groundbreaking that unearthed 419 Africans excavated from a 17th century African Burial Ground in NY. The bones of these enslaved Africans remained hidden under the streets of lower Manthattan for centuries. My job as a Public Educator and Media Coordinator was to educate the public about this untold history of these Africans in colonial New York. My sacred and scholarly work for the past nearly 30 has been centered around excavating history, honoring Ancestors, giving voice to the untold stories like the Africans in Colonial NY and through my work with Remembrance, honoring the millions of Africans who perished during the Middle Passage and ensuring that the historical record reflects these narratives and their contributions. Anually, we remember these Africans and restore their humanity through Remembrance. We walk around our "Tree of Remembrance" as a part of the ceremony because we have not forgotten our roots, our history, culture nor these beloved Ancestors. Members of Sankofa and the community embraced Remembrance in 2012 and give their time and talents to honor our Ancestors...annually we gather at Buckroe Beach to remember them. So grateful for those whom this story has touched and who support these works to honor these Ancestors. (please join us for our 8th Annual Remembrance Saturday, June 8, 2019 at 11am...for more information visit www.thesankofaprojects.blogspot.com For 8 years now, I have lectured across the United States on this work of Remembrance and I create Remembrance ceremonies which honor people, the famous and the forgotten, historic & sacred places which hold memory of what happened there and critical time periods in history which continue to shape and influence our lives today. I am beyond honored to share that I have been chosen by the Norfolk Botanical Gardens as a 2019 Recipient of the Groundbreakers Award for my work with The Sankofa Projects, Remembrance, and 4 E.V.E.R.

This is a full circle moment for me to be honored in honor of these 200 women and 20 African American men, who are now Ancestors who laid the foundation for this majestic garden as giving voice to untold history and honoring the our beloved Ancestors is my sacred work.

With NBG CEO Michael Desplaines

Dear family friend, Dr. Warren Buck

Sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Dearest of friends Edris, Imani and her spouse Grateful to the Norfolk Botanical Garden for this honor. Grateful to my dear friends and family for their support who traveled near and far and sent love and well wishes across the miles. Grateful I am to the Ancestors and for setting me on this path to do this sacred work.