Transcripts For CSPAN3 400th Anniversary Ceremony - First Africans In Virginia 20240714

Welcome the mayor of the city of hampton. Please take your seat. Welcome to the 400th anniversary of the first landing ceremony. It is my honor to welcome governor ralph northern and pamela them. Justin fairfax, attorney general mark herring, mark warner and senator tim kane. U. S. Representative bobby scott of virginia and karen bass of california and representative william clay of missouri. The speaker of the house, cox, first counselor tested former virginia governor, cheryl delisles. Also robert mcdonnell. Former representatives and test it. First Circuit Court of appeals. Members of the cabinet. Also the General Assembly including thomas norman, kenny alexander, john wrote and joseph green junior and the members of the 400 years of africanAmerican History. National park service officials, including daniel smith, and david cella. The vice mayor jimmy gray and members of the city council. Also other special guests. On behalf of the members of city council, our city staff and residents of this city is my honor and privilege to welcome you to Point Comfort. Freedoms fortress. Fort monroe and Fort Monroe National monument in hampton, virginia. It is a historic city that is 409 years old. I often tell them we dont look that old as weve and burned to the ground twice. From almost the beginning, it has been a multiethnic and multicultural city, a model for the nation and for the world to emulate. In july 1610, there were two ethnicities and cultures in hampton, that is the english colonist and that of the indians. Just over nine years later, a third ethnicity and culture was introduced. That if africans. In late august, 1619, the white line arrived at Point Comfort with human cargo, captured in an attack on a spanish slave ship, the san juan batista. The virginia secretary stated that 20 odd were traded for food and supplies. Among those first documented africans to be brought to north america in 1619 were two individuals known as anthony and isabella. They were married and in 1624, it is believed to give birth to the first African Child born in english america. They named him william tucker, and honor of a virginia planter. The descendents of anthony and isabella, the Tucker Family are with us this morning. This weekend Anniversary Commemoration event began with yesterdays ceremony at the Tucker Family cemetery about eight miles northwest of here. Another africanamerican family cometary family can trace its roots to Charles City County in the mid1600s. I want to acknowledge the organization and agencies that have cooperated the past 45 years to plan and execute not just weekends commemoration events but speakers, symposiums, panel discussions, cultural events, concerts and educational seminars over the last three years. These are the hampton 2019 commission. Project 1619 incorporated. The commonwealth of virginias american evolution the Fort Monroe Authority a National Monument of the National Park service and the 400 years of africanAmerican History federal commission. I would like to not acknowledge and recognize Calvin Petersen and project 1619. Began telling the start of the first african survival at comfort in hampton, not jamestown, the event annually since august 2008. Enclosing, researchers and historians tell us that more than 12 million individuals were taken from the african continent during the slave trade. Of these millions, between 380 and 400 thousand were brought to the shores of america. This weekend, the honor, salute and commemorate those 20 and odd, along with other individuals, even my own ancestors, because of strength, determination and endurance, perseverance and resilience, survived the capture and monthlong transfer port through the middle passage. And the dignities, atrocities of that institution. To borrow from hebrews chapter 11, all of these people died having faith. They didnt receive the things god promised them. They saw these things coming and rejoiced. They acknowledged they were living as strangers with no permanent home. Today, i can imagine that as ancestors are looking over the battlements of lori, and on this platform, two representatives. A Lieutenant Governor, state senator and a mayor who are all africanamericans, their hearts must be overjoyed and overflowing with joy. Please welcome James T Moran junior, former congressman from the sixth Congressional District of virginia. Also current chair of the Fort Monroe Authority. Please sit. Thank you. I was revising my remarks as you were speaking. As chairman of the Fort Monroe Authority over the last three years or so, there are several people that deserve to be recognized. I want to make what i hope are substantive remarks. It does save us a little time. We want to recognize, governor ralph northam. I want to thank them for the efforts and achievements with justice and reconciliation. As an example, some of you may not be aware of. And number of us have a major problem with an arched down the street. Is called the Jefferson Davis memorial arch. Its designated as historic. It is not historic. Is a deliberate act of defiance by daughters of the confederacy. We wanted it down before we had this today. The governor used his power to come down one morning and took every letter off the art and if any of you want to see the letters, they are in the museum. Help yourself. It didnt belong here. I will also want to call out some friends at the national level. Former governors and senators mark warner and tim kane. There done such a terrific job. And a couple of other friends in congress, bobby scott who represents this area as delays a lawyer. Also the education and labor committee. She is the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. At the national level. She is also chair of the africa subcommittee and Foreign Affairs committee. It is good to have you here. Let me mention the authority. The previous governors appointed them and they are wonderful. Melba secretary matt strickler, senator locke, doesnt she look splendid today. Mary bunting is on the authority, she is the city manager. Dr. Rex ellis, who had a major role in the establishment of the museum of africanAmerican History. Everyone of you needs to go through the museum if you have not. We are everyday making a closer connection with the museum. Not know if any of you have watched the series on reconstruction. Ed is continually interviewed and he does a terrific job. I listened to him two or three times trying to write down notes. He said i know that guy. Ed from the authority. He has done a great job. Also dr. Lee is a professor at hampton. J joseph is currently serving as vice chair of the authority. Colin campbell is the vice chair. He is recovering right now. He has been terrific as well. Jay is the brother of molly ball who was secretary of Natural Resources and was instrumental in much of the direction that we have taken. I also want to recognize clark mercer. He has done such a great job. Is chief of staff to the governor and really has been directly involved. I will come across a number of people. I see the attorney general, mark herring here. The Lieutenant Governor, justin fairfax. All of those folks will have an opportunity to speak. We also have the Fort Monroe Foundation. They have raised money for things like the business center. Everyone of you should go through that center. It is phenomenal, the accomplishments that have been made in such a short period of time. Every day gets better. You can really enjoy going through their. Is the president of the foundation. Allen diamond steen. He has been wonderful. Jack spoke yesterday. Thank you bill armbruster. Same yorks, now let me mention conklin odor. Is the executive director of fort monroe, i cant imagine the number of people he and his wife have entertained on a weekly if not daily basis. He has been terrific. There are so many people that deserve recognition. I will make a few comments. So we dont get too far off schedule. This is an historic place. 400 years ago, some of the most important decisions that shaped the nations future began to be made here. First, we pay respect to the native people who lived full lives for many generations. Well before the first english settlers arrived. We also pay respects to those first settlers. Many of whom did not survive. Both settlers carried with them a strong desire for freedom and a better life than the one they knew in the first homeland in europe. However today, we address the paradox that a man settled right here, in the name of freedom was also sullied, right here at the expense of freedom. We are here to recognize the first enslaved africans. Were brought ashore to the english colonies in the americas. Human beings. They were traded for provisions. The english settlers including the first governor, governor yardley who made one of those trades for a couple of those, they decided to trade as indentured servants to be used as slaves. This contradiction, the first in moral decision that determined who we virginians became. Slaveholders for 2. 5 centuries. The fact that a virginian that became governor and the third president , rode the nations bill of rights, declaring all people to be equal. With an inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is a contradiction. It undergirds and compromises the america most of us still want us to be. A commonwealth of people who believe in the promise of freedom, justice and equality of all people. In 1861, at the start of the civil war, three extraordinarily brave and enslaved black men, their names were frank baker, James Townsend and shepherd mallory. They sought refuge by boating into the fort, under the cover. The federal commander, major butler, remember that name benjamin butler, he is a historic figure. You decided not to return those men as slaves. But to protect them by declaring them contraband of war. Releasing them from the ownership of masters. They tried to get them. He seceded from the union. Using them to build fortifications for the confederacy. This is contraband. Is the word of that decision went viral by wordofmouth, the act of the three men, set off an enormous reaction. The trigger migration of tens of thousands of enslaved people. Their passion for freedom, combined with commander butler shrewd yet honorable respect for justice, Creative Movement that would ultimately undermine the institution of slavery and contribute to the preservation of the United States of america. A singular nation, willing to fight a bloodied and brutal civil war to enable the emancipation of all of its people. It all happened here. What is now celebrated as freedoms fortress. Brought to english north america. Was designated a monument by the first elected black president of the United States of america, resident barack obama. Ladies and gentlemen, he served his country honorably and confidently. We have come a long way. We still have a long way to go to achieve equality of opportunity, to overcome all the residual effects of slavery and jim crow laws. The american middle class was formed from the immigrant workingclass who defeated the forces, fascism and rightwing nationalist who had taken control of most of europe in the 40s. And in some examples of benefits, for those working class americans. Who fought and won the war. Except for the black soldiers who had fought at least as valiantly but were excluded from the benefit. Today, more than one third of africanamerican children are living in poverty. The net worth of families is nearly 10 times that of lack families. The gap has tripled in size over a generation. Much of it still to the comparative difficulty that black families have. Prison sentences for the same crime are an average 20 longer for black men than white. Bobby scott knows that well. Trying to address that. A job applicant in the United States with a white sounding name is 50 more likely to get a call back from a prospective employer than one with an africanamerican name. I could go on and on with examples of modernday discrimination. Im not going to do that. I mention these facts it this should be more than a day to commemorate, it also must be a day to recommit, being one nation, true to our values, ideals and aspirations. We our great nation. A great and diverse nation. Made up of the survivors of genocide against the first inhabitants. Made up of immigrants that came to this country, mostly from europe, prepared to endure discrimination and effortlessly, religion and political police. They believed this was a country that would in time, overcome those prejudices. A country is made up of the descendents of people who were brought in bondage and held his property, treated as subhuman. Who persevere, will try and, proving their value and their humanity every day. Who will help lead this country out of ignorance and bigotry. To the future of truth and justice and unity. The courage to accept the truth gives us the strength to pursue justice. We do believe what our Founding Fathers understood, it is a phrase on our currency, monuments and it is etched into our national soul. Out of the many, there will emerge when nation. Out of the many, there will emerge one nation and that nation is destined to be as good as it is great. Thank you all very much. Serving as the cochair of the commemoration, american evolution, please welcome, speaker of the house of delegates, m kirkland cox. Good morning, as cochair of the 2019 american evolution commemoration, it is my honor to welcome you to this ceremony. Let me begin by thanking the cochairs of our first African American to english north american committee. Cassandra alexander and she will stand right here. And jackie stone who is back here. We want to thank jackie. Also the entire committee for leadership and guidance, and advising the programs and activities of this 2019 commemoration, american evolution event. Also the General Assembly who has done a good job and help me with the commemoration. I will ask all the members to please stand. We commemorate centuries of africanamerican contributions. We also know the unspeakable tragedy and awful injustice that marks the beginning. As i said at jamestown, your 1619 saw the beginning of not only the heights of america but also the lows of america. We are here to acknowledge the the lowest of lows. Right here on the shores. Tragically it was the genesis, the sample evil that became systematic enslavement, based on race. This occasion will challenge us , and a deeper understanding of not only our history but also the future. The history is to real. From the source, the slave Auction Block of richmond, to the tobacco fields of. The original son of slavery left a permanent stain on commonwealth. From the people that came ashore, virginias enslaved population would reach sadly 500,000 by 1860. The highest of any state in the union. From the shores, to slave Auction Blocks and port cities, up and down the coast. That left an indelible scar on the nation. From the 29 enslaved people who came ashore, the population reached 3 million 3,953,761. As strong as the chains of slavery were, they were no match for the justice and for the perseverance, fortitude and faith of the enslaved community. No match for the righteous resolve of those who struggled and sacrificed to abolish this evil institution. As strong as the chains of slavery were, they were no match for the human spirit and for the ideals of freedom and equality. No match for the conscious that demanded and promised them a Perfect Union apply to all americans, not just some. Over the centuries, African Americans overcame the legacy to leave indelible and positive marks on the commonwealth and nation. Today, we celebrate those contributions. Especially the achievements of so many outstanding virginians. Men and women of achievement. Role models for all americans. Plastic robinson. Doug wilder and henry marsh. Henrietta lacks and mary jackson. So many more who stories we recall this weekend. Each of these people has a story of great achievement of overcoming adversity with blazing trails and opening doors. Their part of this story that brings them here today. Oh, say, can you see, by the dawns early light, what so proudly we haild at the twilights last gleaming . Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro the perilous fight, oer the ramparts we watchd, were so gallantly streaming . And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof thro the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that starspangled banner yet wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave . Please remain standing for the invocation offered by joseph green junior, pastor and copastor of the Antioch Assembly in harrisburg, pennsylvania, and chair of the 400 years of africanAmerican History federal commission. Good morning. It is a privilege to be here before you on behalf of the 400 year africanAmerican History commission. All the commissioners have one of these very beautiful pieces of garment that was custommade in ghana and sent to us, so they are very appreciative of that. On behalf of my wife, my mother, my daughter shayla and more importantly, my granddaughter, eden. The reason i mention eden is because as we are here today to honor our ancestors, we are also here to write a new history for our childrens children. Yesterday i was at the family memorial and it was so impactful. I was so taken by the heaviness and the weightiness of that. It was such an honorable occasion and i appreciate you guys for sharing, but the same scripture that came to my mind at the cemetery is the same scripture that i think is appropriate for today. So as we invoke the lords presence in these events, i would have you turn you dont have to turn to your bibles, i will just read it to you. My preacher kicked in just now. Touch your neighbor and say he is going to preach this. The book of joshua, 4 4 reads, joshua called the people of israel, from whom he had appointed a man from each tribe and joshua said to them, go before the lord your god in the jordan and take each of you a stone upon his shoulder according to the number of the tribes of the people of israel, that this may be a sign among you, when your people ask in time to come, what do those storms mean to you . Then you shall tell them that the waters of the jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the lord, when it passed over the jordan. The waters of the jordan were cut off, so these stones shall be to the people of israel, a memorial forever. Let us pray. Heavenly father, we come here today to honor a sort of memorial stone. We come here to acknowledge our passage to this land. Although conditions were not good and the track was treacherous, you sustained us. You kept us. The journey has been rocky and there have been many dark days, but you were with us. We thank you today, father, that we do not come here to celebrate the past, but to commemorate your faithfulness. We come to honor your strong right hand that watched over us. Through our tears and our fears, we knew we would survive. We celebrate the god of abraham, isaac and jacob, the god of our fathers. We celebrate our fathers who believed what they could not see. We look back at the past as a means of hope for the future. We know you are with us. We come here to honor the resiliency, and the unwavering will of our fathers who bent, but did not break. We know the strength, the will and the fortitude flows through our veins. We seek your peace, your comfort and unity that the future is bright and the possibilities are endless. The hope is not yet destroyed. Help us father to grow together, to love and dream together. Let us walk in forgiveness, love and unity. Never let us forgive. Never let us waiver. We speak your peace and your joy. We pray with expectation and the belief that our latter is brighter than our former. Like a message of redemption, we are here because we have a chance to write a new history, a history of hope, love and unity. We put on the garment of praise and a spirit of heaviness. Never let us forget, so we wont repeat our mistakes. We forgive because we are forgiven and we thank you for the great future that lies ahead of us. In the mighty name of jesus we pray, amen. You may be seated. Please welcome, the honorable timothy kane, United States senator and former governor of virginia to offer special remarks. Good morning, friends. Good morning, friends. It is an honor to stand before you on such an important day. I want to thank all assembled, but particularly the federal 400 years of africanAmerican History commission. I played a role with congressman scott and senator warner in passing the federal legislation to recognize this momentous occasion and i am deeply, deeply moved to be with you today. What does this day mean . In searching for a way to describe it significance, i didnt have the words. But i was drawn to the words of a wonderful virginian. Oliver whitehill, the pioneering civil rights attorney who i came to know when i was a young civil rights lawyer, beginning my career in richmond, 35 years ago. Mister hill was born in richmond in 1907. As virginia commemorated the 300th anniversary of the arrival of the english settlers at jamestown. He entered the world into an ironclad segregated virginia, that had just passed the constitution to guarantee discrimination against all people of color. From the day of his birth, mister hill set his sights on the emancipation of African American, indeed all americans, from the bonds of prejudice. In the military, in the courts, as an elected official. As a very civil rabblerouser. Mister hill helps win the ball brown versus board of education case and was awarded the president ial medal of freedom in 1999. Mister hill lived an entire century and lived to see a very different virginia commemorate the 400th anniversary of the jamestown settlement in 2007. I was governor then and as governor, i made sure that mr. Hill got to meet Queen Elizabeth as she and Prince Philip visited the capital a week after he turned 100 years old. When mr. Hill passed away three months after that visit, we honored him by having his body lay in state in the governors mansion. The commonwealth the commonwealth that was set like a stone against him at his birth, afforded him its highest honors at his death. Mister hill grappled with the significants. He organized a symposium in jamestown, 50 years ago, september 1969, to grapple with what we are grappling with today. The monstrous tragedy of slavery and its deep and lasting consequences. Mister hill wrote an autobiography in 2000 and chose a very unusual title. The autobiography is called the big bang. The big bang. The book theme was the evolution of mankind and the need for a continuing american evolution. I can think of no better way to describe the significance of the arrival of the african slaves in august, 1619. It was the big bang. In physics, the big bang is posited as the violent event that began the universe. With massive consequences that still linger. It was a starting point, but the process commenced with the big bang is not yet complete. The birth of slavery in our nation was equally violent. Both edits start and for the next 246 years. The debilitating consequences linger in our soul. It occurred precisely at the same time as the birth of legislative democracy in our nation. So beginning in 1619, virginia legislators and judges helped build the legal architecture, in shining slavery on our shore, just as virginia proudly proclaimed a society based on the truth that all men were created equal. This dualism, highminded principle and indescribable cruelty has defined us. And the war between our principles and prejudices that we cling to continues to define us. We cannot tell the story of our nation without speaking about its Indigenous Peoples and we cannot tell the story of our nation without speaking about its immigrant character, as drawn from the experiences of spanish settlers of 1565. English settlers of 1607. The french settlers of 1608 and the waves of others who freely arrived in their appointed time from all corners of the world. But neither the indigenous nor the immigrant story is the full story of america today. When the first africans arrived into the english new world in 1619, on these very acres, our nation now contained the powerful combination of indigenous immigrants and enslaved. And that mixture became the big bang, creating america as we know it today. I want to close with the feeling that i have a very hard time putting into words. The Transatlantic Slave Trade was one of the most cruel atrocities ever perpetrated by humankind. And yet, and yet, how fortunate we are as a country that the descendents of that cruel institution, those american slaves and all who followed, are still here and are part of our country. It is impossible to imagine an america without the courage and the spirit and the accomplishment of the african diaspora. America, america would be so much poorer, without our african roots. What does it mean to say that monstrous tragedy and the passage of time may sow the seeds of great beauty . And so we gather here, 400 years later, in a nation of resilient, indigenous people, who still face mighty struggles. In a country of immigrants who too often face shouts to go back where they came from. In a land where the historical burden of slavery, racism, discrimination, still act as a shackle, burdening African Americans. And we are faced with a conflict between our high minded principles and the realities that we sinful humans often accept or even perpetrate. How might we move forward . Mr. Hill concluded the big bang with this quote. Many of our problems stem from several inadequacies. One is a lack of understanding of evolution and the inevitability of change. Instead of opposing change, we should direct the change in a constructive direction. And the second inadequacy we talk about is this. The second is a lack of a model of the type of environment we need for a truly civilized society. As he said, we need to work deciduous lead to correct this defect. One way to do that is to promote, in the 21st century, a renaissance in human relationships. He concluded his autobiography with, thats where i am now. I hope that is where we are now. It is on each of us to understand our nations history and as mr. Hill said, direct the change for the future. We cant do it silently. We cant do it from the sidelines. Lets honor our african roots by finally living up to the ideal, the american ideal, that we are all created equal and that we all deserve to live free. Thank you. Please welcome the honorable mark warner, United States senator and former governor of virginia to offer special remarks. Good morning. It is a real honor for me to join so many friends on this platform and so many friends in this audience to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first african landing. I think as other speakers have already mentioned, this commemoration challenges us to reject the simplistic versions of our history and quite honestly, confront the complicated truth. The truth is, our commonwealth is both the birthplace of Representative Democracy and of american slavery. Our nations constitution enshrines both the ideals of liberty and justice, as well as americas original sin. Frederick douglass spoke about this contradiction a few weeks after the dred scott decision. He said that american slavery endured not because of any paper constitution, but in the moral blindness, the moral blindness of the american people. In today and in these programs over this weekend, we remember the first landings of enslaved africans. We come facetoface with that moral blindness that existed not only in 1619, or in 1776, but unfortunately even today. The truth is, our founders idea of Representative Democracy did not include looking at this audience. Most of you are sitting out there today. But if they knew that the descendents of the people america had enslaved would one day be free and that they would challenge our nation to finally live up to our founding ideals, well, that might give us all a little bit of comfort. We honor the heroes of that struggle today. As well as the men and women whose stories are lost to history. We recognize that 1619 also marked the first capture in the 400 year story of the African American history. And as tim just mentioned, that africanAmerican History is absolutely central and essential to both the history of virginia and the history of our country. Finally, what we do here today is a recognition that is long overdue. Tim made mention of some of the time when he was governor. I remember when i was governor and my youngest daughter was at that point in second grade, Walking Around Capital Square with my wife. Capitol square is kind of the front yard for any of us who have the honor to live in the governors mansion. As my daughter walked around, looking at all these statues and this was not 200 years ago, 100 years ago, this was not 20th century, this was 21st century. She looked around and said, where is the statue of rosa parks . And my wife lisa thought quickly and said, well, rosa parks is not from virginia. But, Capital Square in 2002, the only memorials, the only statues, were of dead white men and the majority of them not 1960s, not 1690, that is 2002. So, with senator henry marsh, we set about and built the virginia civil rights memorial. And when it was unveiled, back in 2008, it was a historic occasion, but it was also bitter sweet. The truth is, it shouldnt have taken more than 50 years to honor Capital Square. It is also equally true that there shouldve never been an occasion where Barbara Johns had to walk out of a dilapidated high school to ask for equal rights as well, in virginia. It is a reminder that no monument or no legislation or no court case can erase the stain of slavery. It will never be that easy. The truth is, in american democracy, where all men and women are entitled to equal citizenship, it is actually a very recent creation. Others have mentioned, as well. It was in our commonwealth, white Prince Edward county. Communities shutdown their schools, rather than be integrated during massive resistance. Now we have made progress as a nation, but the progress is recent. It is incomplete. And that progress will only endure as long as all of us remain committed to both defending and promoting it. Two years ago two years ago, in a country where we fought again. In a commonwealth where we thought we made so much progress, we saw violent forces of hate and backlash, displayed in charlottesville. This tragedy had a lot of us asking, is this who we are . Well, that history confronts us today and reminds us that the answer is complicated. One answer is absolutely true. What happened in charlottesville is not who we should be. And i believe all of our leaders, all of our leaders have a moral responsibility to speak up and demand america deliver on its promise of liberty and justice for all. That is why this commemoration and the National Conversation it is fostering, is so important. If we are going to be a country that truly lives up to our founding principles, then we need to tell the whole truth about our history. The good, the bad, and yes, the ugly, as well. So as we mark this 400 year commemoration of the first african landing, it is my hope that this will be a moment to both comfort the afflicted, but also, afflict the comfortable. Thank you so much for letting me be part of this important ceremony today. Thank you. To share special remarks, please welcome the honorable karen bass, the United States house of representatives and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Good morning, everyone. I want to thank the great people of the state of virginia for organizing a series of events commemorating the 400 Year Anniversary of the arrival of enslaved africans. I want to thank all of the community and elected leaders here for your invitation to participate on behalf of the 55 members strong Congressional Black Caucus. This is the largest number of africanamericans ever elected to congress and in congress, cbc members hold major positions of leadership and have accomplished change through legislative victories. One of the most significant was accomplished by your own representatives. Representative bobby scott, who, by the way, i know you are aware, is the chair of one of the most important committees in congress. The committee governing the nations education system. He led and is leading the effort to raise the Nations National minimum wage. Let me acknowledge another member of the Congressional Black Caucus in the audience today. Representative lucy clay from the great state of missouri. So today we commemorate the anniversary of the arrival here of africans, but earlier this month, a delegation of members of the Congressional Black Caucus, led by speaker nancy pelosi, traveled to ghana, west africa, to pay homage to our ancestors and to visit where they were held captive, before they began that horror filled journey. Before they were captured, they lived in villages with sophisticated levels of organization. Many were skilled craftsmen, farmers, healers and leaders. They were first taken from villages and forced to walk hundreds of miles to dungeons. Our delegation visited these dungeons that look like the old european forts, common in many parts of the world. The two dungeons we visited are ironically in a beautiful part of the country, right on the beach. It was a solemn and Emotional Experience to enter the dungeon. To close our eyes and imagine what our ancestors experienced. An added challenge we all face was the mystery of knowing that our ancestors were held captive there, but that we had no knowledge of who they were. Captured africans were stripped of their languages, ethnic identities, tribal and family ties. We saw the areas of the dungeons that were large enough to hold about 50 to 100 people, but where hundreds were held. Rooms without sunlight, forced to lay in their own excrement, no access to water to bathe, only given enough food and water to keep them alive. Deliberately kept in a weakened state, so they could not organize a resistance. Those who did attempt to resist were mutilated and left in separate rooms and slowly starved to death. Females were routinely made to stand in line while their captors would choose one of them. She was then washed in the lead up a staircase to a bedroom, where she was raped and returned back. They were held in the dungeons for months to await a journey that lasted for months. We have all seen the drawings of thousands of people stuffed on the ships enter the stories of what happened on their journey. When individuals became too sick or died or women gave birth, they were then thrown overboard the ships to the sharks that followed along. The ones who survived here, only to live out the rest of their lives as property, in captivity. It is difficult to believe that this level of brutality lasted hundreds of years and affected millions of africans. But when we stood in the dungeons filled with sadness, our heads lowered, reliving or trying to imagine what they went through, at the very same time, we lifted our heads and our chests were filled with pride and amazement at the strength and resilience of our ancestors. And here we are today, on what can be described as Hallowed Ground in our nations history. I would guess that most of the nation doesnt even know the story of the Hallowed Ground that we stand on today. That we would arrive here first and generations later, escape enslavement and seek protection right here. That the nations first African American president would make fort monroe his first designation for a National Monument. From enslaved ancestors to mayor tuck and vice mayor gray. That in spite of 250 years of enslavement, there would be 67 africanamericans in congress, representing all of america. I only wish the entire nation could witness what you are doing here today. The history of fort monroe. How you have honestly acknowledged all of our nations history. Not just the parts that make us feel good, but the difficult parts, as well. I cant tell you what it feels like for me to sit here. This is my first time here, but the emotion that i feel in listening to the speakers tell the truth tell the truth. The sad thing about our nation and why we continue to have the issues we do is because we have denied part of our history. I believe if the entire nation could experience, could learn and understand our true and full history, we might not be witnessing the resurrection of hate. Thank you so much for the honor of speaking to you today. Now, please welcome the honorable robert c scott, the United States house of representatives for the third Congressional District of virginia. Good morning. I am honored to join all of you here at freedoms fortress on this historic and solemn day. I want to thank everyone here who made this commemoration possible and who traveled with us today, especially my distinguished colleague from california, karen bass. It is you cant imagine, the ones who came here 400 years ago could not imagine a representative representing a caucus of 55 members speaking here today, so i want to give karen bass another round of applause for being with us here today. I also want to welcome the commissioners on the 400 years of africanAmerican History commission. Senator kaine was very generous in giving everyone credit but himself. Of course it was his vision and leadership that created this commission. Give the senator another round of applause. Slavery first arrived on our shores right here 400 years ago. With the forced labor of enslaved africans and their descendents who built this great nation and that is part of our complicated history, with which we continue to wrestle. Over the past 500 years, descendents and others who followed the first 20 and awed africans have made significant contributions to all aspects of American History. As we continue to work in addressing inequality and education, incarceration and criminal justice system, income inequality and attacks on Voting Rights, we also pause to celebrate the incredible resiliency of those africans and their descendents. It is in that spirit that ive been asked to discuss one individual whose fight for justice has much to teach us today. When i am introduced at public gatherings, it is often mentioned that i am the first africanamerican to represent the u. S. House of representatives and only the second in the history of the commonwealth. The first was John Marshall langston, who after successfully contesting his election in 1988, was finally seated as a representative in 1890. 103 years before i began my first term in congress. My service in congress and that of so many others would not have been possible had it not been for those who fought to pave the way. Senators and representatives elected after reconstruction, as well as those who put their lives on the lines to advance civil rights and defend Voting Rights for africanamericans. Even before becoming virginias first black congressman, John Marshall langston had already left a mark on our commonwealth and our nation as a student, abolitionist, patriot, lawyer, diplomat, and public official. In 1829, langston was born a free man in virginia and later, following the death of his parents, moved to ohio. Langstons brother ensured that he received a good education and he graduated from oberon college and became one of our nations first black attorneys and first black elected officials. He was elected town clerk in ohio. As an abolitionist, langston risked his life to assist those escaping slavery along the underground railroad. As a patriot he joined Frederick Douglass and other abolitionists to recruit black men to fight for the union and turn the tide of the civil war. As an educator he established Howard University law school, the nations first black law school, alma mater of two of virginias greatest civil rights attorneys. Thurgood smart Thurgood Marshall who youve heard about. Langston also served as the first president for what today is Virginia State university in petersburg. Langston was encouraged by both whites and blacks to run for the u. S. House of representatives in 1888. He contested the results due to obvious voter intimidation and fraud. The u. S. House of representatives eventually declared him the winner and he took his seat september 23, 1890 and was only able to serve the few remaining months in his term. He lost his bid for reelection, but he already left an indelible mark on the cause of freedom. A portrait of langston hangs in my office, a visible reminder of one of the many visionary black virginians and americans whose dogged pursuit of equity helped shape a more Perfect Union. We may never know all the names and stories of the men and women brought here in 1619, but as we remember, mourn, and honor them, let us also remember the trail blazers like john russell langston, who followed them, believed in and fought for a nation to live up to its creed. I hope that reflecting on our nations complicated history reminds us of our responsibility to work to achieve liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Please welcome the honorable elaine luria, United States house of representatives for the district of virginia. Good morning, 400 years ago our commonwealth was the site of some pivotal, historical firsts. For example, we recently celebrated the 400th anniversary of the first legislative session in jamestown. This event led to legislative Representative Democracy in america and continues to influence our society for the better. But American History isnt all uplifting and convenient. In fact, it is messy and it is complicated. Our past contains difficult truths that we must learn from, so we can be empowered and equipped to correct todays injustices. One of those difficult truths is that our commonwealth, specifically fort monroe, the land we are standing on now, is the site where the first enslaved africans in british north america arrived 400 years ago. Today we remember this history that continues to shape our nation. We also honor the bravery of those who escaped slavery here. Frank baker, Sheppard Mallory and james houston, all of who paved the way for thousands more. As one of the representatives here, i am proud that fort monroe serves as a symbol of the courage and heroism that emerged from americas original sin of slavery. And from a military community perspective, we know the fight for freedom is one waged with great cost, including thousands of africanamericans from virginia who contributed to the safety, security and freedom of this nation. Many came from or fought in Hampton Roads communities. We are reminded of men like william carney, born into slavery in norfolk, he joined the union army during the civil war and made his mark during the 1863 assault on fort wagner in charleston, south carolina. If a Soldier Holding the union flag was killed, he ran to catch the falling flag, raised it high and kept marching, despite his own multiple wounds. He made his way back to the union side, never once dropping the flag. His actions were an inspiration to his fellow soldiers. Unfortunately, he had to wait until 1900, 37 years, to receive recognition for his efforts. By then, other African Americans had received medals of honor. Because his actions had occurred first, Mister Carney is considered to be the first africanamerican medal of honor recipient. Africanamericans who fought for American Freedom must be remembered in part because they themselves were not free, nor did they benefit from the liberties given to other americans. Clearly their sacrifice went above and beyond. As president obama once said, fort monroe played an Important Role in some of the darkest and some of the most heroic moments in American History. We have the power to transform symbols of injustice into bastions of hope and knowledge. That is why fort monroe is so important. If you listen to todays speakers and reflect on the complex history of our community, let us remember the past, so we can pave the way to a brighter future. Above all, lets recommit together toward a better america. Thank you. Please welcome to the podium, the 73rd governor of virginia, the honorable ralph northam. Please be seated. Good morning. What a beautiful setting this is. I thank you for the privilege of speaking to you at fort monro today. As a former member and vice chairman of the fort monro authority, it is always a pleasure to be here at this site. Thank you all for being here today, to commemorate 400 years of American History. For those of you from out of state, welcome. To virginia. Its great to be here today with former governors, now senators mark warner and tim kaine. Former governors mcdonald i also want to recognize Lieutenant Governor justin fairfax. Attorney general, congressman bobby scott, congresswoman elaine luria. House of delegates speaker, kirk cox. Members of our legislative black caucus and other elected officials. I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make this commemoration a reality. Fort Monroe Authority director glenn otis. Board of trustees chairman jim moran. Members of the Fort Monroe Authority board. National superintendent terry graham. The National Parks service. Kathy spangler, Nancy Rodriguez and the team from american evolution. I would also like to thank the 2019 commemorative commission for all the hard work theyve done around these events in our own city. We are here today for a commemoration. And a reckoning. Today is a time to reckon with the fact that 400 years ago, enslaved africans arrived for the first time on virginias shores. Like you and me, they had lives and families. Lives and families they would never see again. Just up the river, in jamestown, a few weeks earlier, white, landowning men had come together to establish a system of representative government. But that system did not represent all of the people who arrived here at old fort color. People whose skin looked different than mine. That government did not represent them during 246 years of slavery. It did not represent them through nearly 100 years of reconstruction and jim crow terror and discrimination. And in many ways, it struggles to represent them today. That is the truth and that is what we must reckon with as we move forward. How do we tell the full and true story of our past 400 years, how do we do so with honor and dignity for people whose honor and dignity were taken away from them . Who should tell the story . And how do we learn from those lessons as we move forward . Ida b. Wells wrote that the way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them. If we are going to begin to truly right the wrongs of our four centuries of history, if we are going to turn the truth upon them, we have to start with ourselves. Over the past several months, as i have met with people around the state and listens to their views on disparities and inequities that still exist today, i had to confront some painful truths. Among those truths was my own incomplete understanding regarding race and equity. I have learned a great deal from those discussions and i have more to learn, but i also learned that the more i know, the more i can do. You see, for too long, the burden has been on individuals and communities of color to lead these discussions. But if more of us had these hard conversations and truly listen and learn from them, we will be better able to shine that light of truth. Because, the eyes cant see what the mind does not know. We can start those conversations at places like this. Fort monroe, the ground were the first enslaved africans landed. Also the same ground where the end of slavery began. It was here where enslaved people sought refuge and or granted it, a decision that eventually led to emancipation. General butlers contraband decision has been hailed by a nationally known historian of the American South and a member of the Fort Monroe Authority as the greatest moment in American History. Virginia is the place where enslaved africans first landed and where american Representative Democracy was born. Virginia is the place where emancipation began and the confederate capital was located. Virginia is the place where schools were closed under massive resistance, rather than desegregate and allow black children to attend. And it is the state that elected the nations first africanamerican governor. Virginia is a place of contradictions and complexity. We took a step forward and often, a step backward. And we have to acknowledge that. We have to teach the complexity to our children and often, to our adults. We are a state that for too long has told a false story of ourselves. The story we tell is insufficient and inadequate. Especially when it comes to black history. We must remember that black history we must remember that black history is American History. That is why earlier today, i signed an executive directive to establish a commission on africanAmerican History education in our commonwealth. You all needed to stretch your legs a little bit, didnt you . Yeah. This commission will review our educational standards, instructional practices, content and resources currently used to teach africanAmerican History in our commonwealth. We want to make sure all students develop a full and comprehensive understanding of the africanamerican voices that contributed to our story. But that is not the only thing that we can do. When we look back at events of 1619 or 1861 or 1964, when the Civil Rights Act was signed, we often look at them as history, frozen in time or locked in a book. Relics of the past. We memorize dates, but not connections. We dont teach the themes that appear in our history over and over again. We often fail to draw the connecting lines from those past events to our present. But to move forward, that is what we must do. We know that racism and discrimination arent locked in the past. They werent solved with the Civil Rights Act. They didnt disappear. They merely evolved. They are still with us in the disparities we see in education attainment and School Suspension rates. In maternal and neonatal mortality for blackandwhite mothers. In our courts and prisons and in our business practices. Through 400 years of American History, starting with the enslavement of africans, through jim crow. Massive resistance and now mass incarceration. Black oppression has always existed in this country, just in different forms. The legacy of racism continues, not just in isolated incidents, but as part of a system that touches every person and every aspect of our lives, whether we know it or not. And if we are serious about righting the wrongs that began here at this place, we need to do more than talk. We need to take action. The commission i mentioned earlier is just one action. My administration is taking bold steps to write historical inequities in education, in our Health System and in access to business opportunities. We established a commission to examine racial inequities in virginia law. We have set a goal to eliminate Racial Disparities in maternal and neonatal mortality by 2025. I signed an executive order to advance equity for small women, minority and veteran owned businesses, including a statewide disparity study. And we are working to reduce evictions. A few weeks ago, i was here at fort monroe to announce the removal of letters from the arch that once celebrated the president of the confederacy. Jefferson davis was charged with treason and was imprisoned here at fort monroe, a traitor to his country. And i believe it is no coincidence that in the same year virginia enacted massive resistance as official state policy, that arch went up in his honor. To have a monument glorifying a person who worked to maintain slavery on the same stage in which enslaved african folks first arrived here and were later freed is not just inappropriate, it is offensive and it is wrong. Removing that monument is one way we connect to better tell the true story, here in virginia. And i am pleased and proud to announce today another important step in how we represent the full and true story of our commonwealth. Last year, i requested and the General Assembly agreed, to allocate 500,000 toward the first african landing memorial art project here at fort monroe. Since that time, the Fort Monroe Authority and Virginia Commission for the arts, in partnership with the National Park service, the Fort Monroe Foundation and project 1619, led a National Search for an artist who could create this memorial art project. The art project will be dedicated to the first landing of african people, here on the shores. Importantly, the artist will engage with the public to ensure the community has the chance to express their opinion on what this memorial project means to them and what experiences should be included in the design. I am delighted that the artist for the fort monroe african landing memorial art project is here with us today. Please welcome mister brian owens. Would you please stand, sir . I look forward to seeing mister owens project and how it will contribute to this site and the telling of this important american story. On this very day last year, i was at the Tucker Family cemetery. A cemetery named after the first documented child of african descent, born in English Speaking north america. William tuckers parents, anthony and isabel, were among those who were brought here in 1619. Like too many africanamerican cemeteries, the Tucker Family cemetery had fallen victim to neglect. It is also a testament to revival and restoration. Family members and interested groups are working to restore that cemetery and i want to recognize and thank Dolores Mcmahon for her work on this issue. In that restoration work and in the events this weekend, i see steps forward. I see us working to acknowledge the wrongs and the evils done in the past and in the present. Because, while we cannot change the past, we can use it and learn from it. When we know more, we can do more. I know more, and as your governor, i will do more. And as we reckon with the painful legacy of virginias racist past and acknowledge that it continues to shape our present, we can and must continue to act to improve the future. We must all work to tell our full and true story. It is our job, all of us, who make up this diverse society. To ensure that when the next generation looks back, a generation that is hopefully more inclusive than we have been, they see a more accurate narrative. One that tells the truth and includes everyone. May god bless fort monroe, may god bless the commonwealth of virginia, the United States of america, and may god bless all of you. Thank you all so much. Due to a family illness, Nikki Giovanni is unable to be here with us today. To read her original poem for this occasion, please welcome jacqueline stone, cochair for the 2019 commemoration first africans to america committee. A poem by Nikki Giovanni. 1619 jamestown, but not only. An answer to the new york times. There may be a time limit, but there is no time limit to change that does not, will not, cannot change. No matter what the color of the people or the language they speak, no matter which god is served, no matter which food is eaten or forbidden, where clothes are worn or not, no matter the hair covered or shaved, no matter how we look at it, there have been slaves. Every civilization or rather most, reach a point where slavery is recognized as wrong or in some cases a bad idea. Or perhaps more accurately, those who used to sell slaves now no longer have the currency or strength to control the lives of human beings, so they create a lie on a Supreme Court for the same purpose. I often wonder when i think of the murder of jesus, what he and simon talked about as simon gave jesus some relief with getting the cross to calvary. We have a bit of an idea of what socrates was thinking as he drank hemlock. In our time, we know Martin Luther king wanted to hear music at dinner. Play it beautifully for me. Before the shots took his life. And there were many others who were hanged, beaten to death, fought in wars for the right or wrong side. But i have wondered as a person living in virginia, how we got here. We know the europeans didnt go into communities to find west africans, africans did. We know when communities recognize defeat, they were lined up and brought to shore to be sold. But we also see a grandmother trying to defend her grandson and failing. Reaching to put in his hand a peanut. Dont forget me, she says. He holds tightly what will be called america, where he is sold. He plants that charge for a promise to keep and he stays to watch it grow. Others would escape and think him cowardly, but he had promises to keep. Others did not understand the strength it takes to wipe sweat from your hanging brother, to cradle your daughter, to lovingly put your wife into the ground, but he had promises to keep. And he kept them. Virginia is not the peanut state. Virginia is the state of promises. The only question is, will we keep them . Sharing remarks from the National Park service, please welcome Mister Daniel smith, Deputy Director. Good morning. When you are the 11th speaker, especially following these distinguished individuals, and then a poet laureate, and then to be followed by a young man who will steal all of our hearts, it is a rough assignment, but as the Deputy Director of the National Park service i take that responsibility, but i will try to be brief. Welcome to all of you today who are distinguished guests. We are grateful to so many for helping make fort monroe one of the 419 National Park units of the National Park system. We recognize the important responsibility we have as stewards of Fort Monroe National monument and its role in so many facets of our history. Since the creation of the National Park service in 1916, 103 years ago tomorrow, our duty has been to care for americas extraordinary places and the stories they harbor. Certainly, many of our parks are beautiful landscapes, but they are also places where challenging events took place. National parks provide spaces for discussion, for reflection, and our shared american narrative. As we are doing here at fort monroe today, tomorrow, and into the future. The 400th anniversary is a year long commemoration and conservation conversation, to recognize the highlight of 400 years of africanAmerican History and accomplishments. The work of the 400 years of the africanAmerican History commission established by congress and signed into law by President Trump last year, is administered by the National Park service. It will extend through july 2020. Civic, historical, educational, artistic, religious, and other organizations are invited to coordinate and participate in activities designed to expand the collective understanding and appreciation of an African American contributions to the american experience. Tomorrow, National Parks across the country will join with us here at fort monroe as we ring bells to remember the africans were brought here in bondage, 400 years ago. And the generations of African Americans who struggled, overcame, and continued to strive for civil and social justice today. Just imagine, tomorrow at the statue of liberty, at independence hall, at acadia National Park in maine, the everglades in florida, denali in alaska, at the uss arizona memorial in hawaii. At Martin Luther Kings National Historic Site in atlanta, at brown versus board of education, at tuskegee National Historic site, at selma to birmingham, at Harriet Tubman and the underground railroad, all of us will be, in spirit and in strength, as we go forward. We are grateful to our many partners who have made this weekend possible, including the commonwealth of virginia, American Revolution 2019, the city of hampton, the Grassroots Organization project 1619, and Hampton Roads community. The Fort Monroe Authority and the United States armed forces who are supporting this event. I would like all representatives of the National Park service who are here to please stand briefly. And then i would like superintendent jerry brown to remain standing. Jerry, this is a hallmark day for the National Park service. This is what our mission is about and you, as the superintendent for the Fort Monroe National monument, have brought us to this day and i commend you for your efforts and leadership to bring us where we are today. I salute you, superintendent brown. He represents the best of the National Park service and governor, i would like to say, that the National Park service accepts your challenge to tell these stories as we move toward the 250th anniversary of our declaration in 2026, and that we tell the stories as you say we need to, with truth in the knowledge of our past. Thank you all very much. Please welcome mister brycen dildy, student at Johnson Middle School in virginia beach. Good morning, everyone. My name is brycen dildy and today i am honored and delighted to be a youthful voice to help celebrate this occasion. When the first africans landed here at fort monroe 400 years ago, they may not have known how their sacrifices and contributions would help shape our community and nation. As the years and generations past, there are also local africanamericans who continue to give contributions to society. Such as, katherine johnson, a resident of hampton. A mathematician who is known for calculating trajectories for many of nasas crew missions. We should also recognize mary jackson. Who, in 1958, became nasas third black female engineer. And who was born and educated, right here in hampton, virginia. I am sure the first africans would be proud of their accomplishments, however, there is another way that we can all give back to our community. We simply start with how we treat one another. Are you kind to others daily . Im not just talking about being kind to friends and family. How about being kind to people you barely know . Or do not know at all. I want to share a personal story. Earlier this year, my teacher was battling cancer, so i wanted to do something to let her know she wasnt on this journey alone. With the help of others, i collected 551 cards to encourage her and brighten her most difficult days ahead. We can all find ways to show kindness to one another. For example, hold the door open for someone walking behind you. Or, walked around with a smile on your face. Your smile may brighten up someone elses day. Be helpful to the elderly and disabled. Pray for our country and others. During times of tragedy. Create ways to volunteer and help others. Why do all of this, you may ask . Well, in my 11 years of being on this earth, i realized that my hands is true. She said, people may not remember what you say or do, but they never forget how you make them feel. Imagine the problems that would be solved if all people were kind and well cared for. It doesnt matter what your race or religion be, we all deserve kindness [ applause ] and we all should show kindness. As we commemorate 400 years of the first africans landing here, lets make them proud this is more than just a speech i challenge you to let today also be a celebration of your commitment to become a more caring and kind individual. To all, thank you and god bless you all. [ cheers and applause ]. [ cheers and applause ] please welcome the honorable virginia Second District for remarks and introduction. So i get to follow him . Good morning and welcome to the Second Senate district. [ applause ] education and the news media are two critically important institutions that have been involved in the Freedom Movement here in america. It is with great pride i stand here today, first as an educator, which was and is my role before i became a legislator. As a professor, i have long been believed that knowledge is power. Power can be productive but also destructive. When we educate ourselves with the truth and commit to living out that truth, we can change our communities for the better. As a student and product of the southern Freedom Movement, i know intimately that the truth shall, indeed, set us free. [ applause ] as a legislator, i believe that establishing laws that are put in truth is crucial to guaranteeing freedom and justice for all. The responsibility of the General Assembly is to confront this important principle during each session. And the news media is equally responsible. The press has been a Guiding Light toward helping the legislative branch of government achieve this important goal. President Thomas Jefferson was correct to champion the role of the press as a pillar of democracy. As an africanamerican, the news media, particularly black press, has been vital to the process of educating and inspiring africanamericans to persevere toward freedom. From its very beginning, the black press advocated passionately for freedom, education, and selfempowerment. In 1827, freedoms journal, americas first black monopoly launched with these powerful words, and i quote, we wish to bleed our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us. Too long has the public been deceived by misrepresentation, and things which concern us dearly. These words define the desire and willingness of black people to fight for their freedom, to determine their own fate. Regarding the importance of education, freedom journal look toward future generations of africanamericans. The editorial continued, and i quote, education being an objective of the highest importance to the welfare of society, we shall endeavor to present just and adequate views of it. It is surely time that we should awake from this let years and make a concentrated effort for the education of our youth. Deliberate miseducation was why the institution of slavery stood for so many generations. [ applause ] this wrong yet real belief that black people were less than human prevailed among many welleducated white men and women. It was not only perpetuated in schools but through writes and images in the white press. But the black press through freedoms journal and other publications presented the america that was being deliberately omitted. Real facts hold black journalists pushed all media to be more balanced, more accurate, to become better at telling the truth. Now in 2019, as news is consumed in new ways, we face the challenge of inaccurate information spread across the internet and the air waves. It has threatened our knowledge of each other as americans. We are more educated yet we seem to have less understanding of the truth. [ applause ] today, more than ever, we need voices of truth in the media, such as our speaker today. Media personalities who are dedicated to advocacy that educates and moves americans to positive action. It is my honor to introduce van jones. A graduate of the university of tennessee and Yale Law School. Hes worked for economic justice, both at the civil rights attorney and environmental activist, and known for his bestselling book the green collar economy. He served as specialed advisor r green jobs for barack obama and a host and commentator for cnn. Please join me in welcoming van jones. [ applause ] im relieved because nobody is going to remember what happened except for bryson. That young man, my goodness everybody is wiping away tears listening to that young man. I will save time by echoing and amenning all of the great words of appreciation to all the people who are here. And just a few words. Im a ninth generation american. Im a ninth generation american. Im the first person in my family who was born with all my right the recognized by this government. Im a ninth generation american and im the first person in my family. So when people say why do you keep talking about these issues . Im not talking about my great, great, great grandparents, though i could and should, my mother and my father were born in segregation. My father Willie Anthony jones was born in poverty and segregation in memphis, tennessee. He put himself he joined the military. When everybody was ranning out of the military, my father ran in so he could put himself through college. He went to lane college and he married the College President s daughter. My dad had to like that. He knew what he was doing. And after he got out, he and my mother put my uncle milton through college. His little brother. And cousin through college. And my entire family got out of poverty on this bridge called my fathers back. And when my father died, the picture they put of my father on the Funeral Program was my father standing in front of Yale Law School the day i graduated with his hands in the air saying we did it we showed them in one generation we showed them. To take the foot off our neck a little bit, we can go anywhere and compete with anybody. And my one great pain is that my father lost his battle with cancer before being able to see barack obama enter the white house, and yet, in some ways, maybe its good. Because my father was not the kind of man who would have taken it easy on me or easy on us. As we look to the future, my father would have asked me, son, how can you be happy to have one black man in the white house and almost a million black men in the jailhouse and not doing enough about it . He wouldnt be easy on me. He wouldnt be easy on us. How can you be happy to celebrate a few black billionaires when the average wealth of the black family is going down and down and down almost to zero. He would be tough on us and he would not accept the answer that there are racists in the country. That there are opponents in the country, you know, when i would come home from school and talk about racism at yale, my father would say they put any dogs on you, son . Were going to get you a lesson. So, yes, he would say we have to deal with those issues but my father would say something, which i want to share with you. That when you have the right strategy, its hard to hurt you. When you have the wrong strategy, its hard to help you. When your enemy downgrades, youve got upgrade your approach. As we now look to the next 400 years, we often have black History Month. I love black History Month. We need more black history. It shouldnt just be a month. But i would sometimes feel tempted to trade in one black History Month for a black future weekend. Can we talk about the black future . Can we talk about where were going . Can we talk about what is necessary to get there . As we look at the next 400 years. We learned a tough lesson in the obama white house. We believe that we had gotten to the mountain top that dr. King talked about. When we got to the mountain top, we realized that our sisters and brothers in haiti were being dropped off by other boats were correct when they say behind the mountain is another mountain. That achievement in 2008 was not the end. It was the beginning of a new journey. Behind the mountain of washington, d. C. , there are other mountains of power. There are four centers of power in our country. We did not know that until we got to washington, d. C. We spent most of the last century trying to get to washington, d. C. Frederick douglass went to d. C. To talk to lincoln. Dr. King, a young preacher, marched on washington, d. C. , hoping a president would do better. Barack obama and Michelle Obama went to the white house. Our entire strategy primarily focussed on washington, d. C. When we got to that corner of power, it turned out there were three others we department know anything about. If were going to be honest, theres work left to be done in washington, d. C. , and i am proud to be under the leadership and the constitute ledge of bobby scott. Im proud that bobby scott is bringing liberal the and conservatives together about incarceration. Our incarceration industry denied liberty and justice to many people and thats why bobby scott is a champion for liberty and justice for all. I love this brother. Hes my leader. But d. C. Is only one corner of a four corner power system. If you leave washington, d. C. , and get on the train and go north a few hours, youre in new york city, wall street, finance, big capital, very few africanamericans there. I want to make sure that the next generation sitting in our classrooms will study robert smith, the africanamerican who was beginning to dominate wall street as much as we study anybody else. Big money. Big power. Wall street. If you leave wall street, take an uber or lyft or taxi and go to the airport. Jfk. You can fly across the country and within five hours, youre in the bay area. Northern california, silicon valley. You have google, apple, facebook, amazon, the people who are building the future. We used to write the future in laws in washington, d. C. Now the future is being written in computer code in silicon valley. The power to write and dictate the future is in silicon valley. Very few africanamericans in silicon valley. Our children are happy to be given the opportunity to download apps not being taught how to write their own and upload apps. We need a generation of uploaders. Not just downloaders for the next generation if were going to get anywhere. To another corner of power. Last thing, you can take a leisurely drive from Northern California to southern california. Youll quickly be in a place and you can see stars not just in the sky but on the sidewalks. Another place of power where too often where twere the stars bu we dont own the studio. Another mountain to climb. I say this to you because the way we got here was because africanamericans and our allies were willing to look coldly, clearly, and honestly at the challenges that they face. With less technology, with less money, with less support, with less understanding, they met every single challenge up to this day. They understood that sometimes you have to have an evolution in the revolution. Sometimes you have to have an evolution in the revolution. When your enemy downgrades, sometimes so you to upgrade. Were now at that moment. I am confident that we can meet this moment and meet this challenge and climb the mountain of policy in d. C. , finance in wall street, technology in silicon valley, media ownership in hollywood, and any other mountains that are revealed to us because africanamerican people and our close allies have been the driving force for progress and democracy on these shores. Do not forget, the original fake news was told in 1776. When they said, and maybe even believed, that we had created, that we had founded a democratic republic on these shores on one day in 1776. Fake news. We hadnt yet founded a democratic republic. We had begun to process, but Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman standing up to end slavery were founders to the democratic republic. They, too, were founders. The suffragettes, demanding women have the right to vote, they be included, were a part of founding a democratic republic. Ella joe baker, dr. Martin luther king, challenging segregation, demanding that we look to these principles. They were founders, too. The folks who stood up at stone wall and said stop mistreating us because of who we love. They were founders, too. The process of founding a truly multiracial, multiclass democratic republic, the toughest job ever taken on by any people in the world to have one country with every kind of human being ever born living within it. One country with every race, with every faith, with every gender presentation, every sexuality, every kind of human being ever born in one place living as a democracy, as a democratic republic. The toughest challenge taken on ever by any people on earth. That challenge is a challenge that was taken on centuries ago and will be working to develop it centuries from now. What that challenge means for us today is that you are a founder. You are a founder. The people on this stage are founding the republic that the brysons of the world will live in. We have to take our charge and time as seriously as the people before us did so that someday, someday when we put our hands on our heart, well have a democratic republic with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much. [ applause ] please welcome the honorable justin e fairfax. The Lieutenant Governor of virginia. Good morning everyone. I am deeply honored to be here with you all today with this distinguished array of wonderful public servants. I thank you for your leadership, your inspiration, for all you do on behalf of commonwealth of virginia and on behalf of this nation. I recognize all of those who previously had been recognized here in the audience. Thank you all for your service. I want to especially recognize a couple of dear friends who have been instrumental in this demonstration week in and given their heart and soul to making this so successful. To the cochairman of the hampt hampt Hampt Hampton commemoration. Thank you for your tremendous leadership. Im grateful to be joined by my wonderful family. Dr. Serena fairfax, our two young children, my motherinlaw, thank you all. The Ashton Branch of the fairfax family, were grateful you made the trip to be with us here. Theres also a group here that i wanted to recognize who has not yet been, i believe, properly recognized. If you, anywhere, on this forum are the descent end of anyone who has been enslaved, whether you know their name or not, i would be honored if youre able to stand and be recognized by all of us. Were grateful. Youre the legacy were here to commemorate and celebrate. Let us please recognize all of those who represent the best of who we are in virginia and this nation. The foundational part of why were here today. Weve heard a lot this morning, rightfully so, about truth. Theres power in the truth. Theres power in knowing our history. There is power in knowing from which we came. During the week of our inauguration in january of 2018, i learned how my family got the last name fairfax. It was discovered that week in the old Fairfax County courthouse a document that had freed my great, great grandfather Simon Fairfax from slavery in Fairfax County, virginia. He was freed by a man named thomas fairfax. My father had a copy of the document two days before our inauguration. He gave a copy of it to me. I saw it for the first time in my life 20 minutes before i walked on the steps of the capitol on Inauguration Day to take the oath of office as the 41st Lieutenant Governor as the commonwealth of virginia. I had that document in my breast pocket. 220 years later, Simon Fairfaxs great, great, great grandson was being sworn in as a number two in command in the same state where he was enslaved. God is good and the arc of universe is long but it ultimately bends toward justice. And today we mark this commemoration to ensure the world will remember how the United States of america got its start. Enslaved africans whose labor and lives are foundational to the beginning and the success of our nation. We stand today on sacred and hallow ground from which sprang the foundation of america. We also stand in the aweinspiring intersection of 400 years of a very complex history. A history filled with the dual strands muof darkness and light that have run through the veins of the commonwealth of virginia and through our nation for centuries. A history of tragedy and triumph. Of pain and promise. Of slavery and salvation. Of opposition and opportunity. A history of heartbreak and hope. At this intersection, we must decide what the next 400 years will look like in this land that we love. We must decide whether we finally abandon the racism, sexism, dehumanzation, unequal treatment under the law, and racial and economic subrogation that met the 20 some odd africans as they were forced to land on this very spot 400 years ago. We must decide whether in the next 400 years we will rise to the better angels of our nature. Theres power in the truth. For generations, americans have been taught that the first enslaved africans arrived in jamestown in 1619. Today, however, we raise up the truth that they, in fact, were forced to land right here 40 miles southeast in Point Comfort modern day hampton, virginia. The truth is that among that small band of brave surviving souls, were anthony and isabella who would later find love, even in the mist of enslavement to produce william tucker, the first named African Child born in north america. Yesterday eight miles up the road, we commemorated the 400 years of the Tucker Family cemetery with the beautiful desken dants of that great legacy. As i stood there on those Hallowed Grounds of the cemetery that represented life more than death. I thought about the famous quote. They tried to bury us but they didnt know we were. The Tucker Family story is the africanamerican story. Its also the american story. We, as a people, have triumphed over obstacles no others have, and we will do it again and again. We built this country. Do not tell us to go back where we came from. We have found victory over systemic subrogation and seen our way through. We have prevailed over lies and succeeded against all odds. No one can stop us. We have made a way out of no way. We should be proud of it all. We stand on the shoulders of the strongest ancestors in world history. Ancestors whose faith, resilience, perseverance, and love have allowed us to rise in spite of all the many obstacles created to stop our progress. The famous and immortal words of maya angelou, out of the huds of history shame i rise. Up from a past that is rooted in pain, i rise. Im a black ocean leaping and wide, welling and swelling i bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, i rise into a daybreak that is wonderfulously clear. I rise. Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave. I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise. It is said that anthony, isabella, and the 20 some odd africans came here with nothing. Thats not quite true either. Having nothing would not have allowed them to survive the brutal months long journey from engola to where we stand today in the bows of wooden ships. Having nothing would not have permitted their spirits to believe in the capacity of love, even as hate and degradation was their daily reality. Having nothing would not have allowed them to continue to burn the flame of hope in the seemingly unended midnight of slavery. What they had was spiritual wealth. The faith, the values, the compassion, the love of others, and the belief that tomorrow could be brighter than today. The truth is, for centuries, we have sailed masterfully in rough seas over alternate waves of progress and high tides of adversity, powered by the unflagging winds of faith and hope, and ever steered in the direction of liberation and uplift. We have carried each successive generation to lands of opportunity and hope and prayed for by prior ones. The pace of our progress is sometimes painfully slow. Other times breath takingly rapid. But in the broad sweep of our collective journey, because our moral compass remains true, we always make progress. We always rise together. Thats the nature of our story in america. It is the hallmark of who we are. Now it is our time to write another chapter in the great story of america. A chapter where we continue to see the best of who we are. I have an unwavering belief in the fundamental decency, good will, and humanity of the people of virginia and america. Carted by the god of our weary years and the god of our silent tears and our eyes focussed firmly on the promise land. We will rise to the call of history against the better angel was our nature together. God bless you all. God bless anthony, isabella, the 20 odd enslaved africans, william tucker, the commonwealth of virginia, and the United States of america. We will rise together. God bless you all. To deliver todays benediction, please welcome monsignor William Parish jr. My sisters and brothers, let us bow our heads in prayer envotie envoting the presence of god. God of our weary years, god of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far on the way. Thou who has thy might, lead us into the light, keep us forever in the path. We pray. Les our feet stray from the places our god where we met. Les our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thy shadowed beneath thy hand. May we forever stand true to our god. True to our native land. May god protect us and bless us and keep us all from evil. Amen. Amen. Amen. [ applause ] please join me in thanking all of our presenters today as we welcome back to the stage the choir under the direction of mr. Joe harmon for our final performance lift every voice and sing. Lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring ring with the harmonies of liberty let us rejoicing rise high as the listening skies let it resound as loud as the rolling sea sing a song full of faith that the dark past has taught us sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us [ applause ] are all week featuring American History tv programs of what is available every weekend on cspan3. Lectures in history, american artifacts, real america, the civil war, oral history, the presidency, and special event coverage about our nations history. Enjoy American History tv now and every weekend on cspan3. Learn about American History. Next we visit the Virginia Museum of history and culture in richmond to look at their exhibit on 400 years of africanAmerican History. The curator focuses on the period between 1619 and the civil war. Sharing stories about individuals who lead slaves, educated fellow freed people, and participated in abolitionist john