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 heavine