"The 300-year struggle for the African Burial Ground, from a strictly scientific standpoint, constitutes a continuing
assertion of human identity against those who would belittle or belie that status for reasons of economic expediency."
- Dr. Michael L. Blakey, from The New York African Burial Ground Project: An Examination of Enslaved Lives,
a Construction of Ancestral Ties, presented August 19, 1997 to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights Sub-Committee
on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.
5th Annual Commemoration of the Life
of Gabriel and the "Burial Ground for Negroes" Fantastic program this year. Thank you for
joining us on Wednesday, October 10, 2007. King
Salim Khalfani, executive director of the Virginia State Conference NAACP was our featured speaker and roused the people
with his telling of the process and impact of having the Governor of the state give Gabriel an informal pardon. Our
good friend and ally, Bro. Saladin Muhammad of Black Workers for Justice and UE Local 150 in North Carolina provided impromptu
remarks bringing the Gulf Coast survivors to the embattled Jena 6; bringing Smithfield and Petersburg to Gabriel and
Richmond. We were very fortunate to have the blessing
of the ancestors at the burial ground conducted by Sister Ma'at Free.
The Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation
Project
of the Defenders for Freedom, Justice
& Equality
Goals of the Sacred Ground
Historical Reclamation Project
-
To preserve the site of Richmond's slave
trading, economy-building history
-
To reclaim and commemorate Richmond's Oldest
Municipal Cemetery, the "Negro Burial Ground" at 15th & E. Broad streets
-
To tap into the living memory of the descendents
of our history and add another layer to the whole history of Richmond and Virginia
-
To examine the evolution of the founding
principles of this country as applied to its "immigrant" populations
-
To recall and promote the acts of
those, like Gabriel, who have struggled and continue to struggle for freedom, justice and equality on this earth.
Lend us your talents, your financial support, your
time, and the determination to strengthen our community with awareness and critical thought.
Read "The Significance of Shockoe Bottom"
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Tell Richmond's officials you want Richmond's own "Burial Ground for
Negroes" acknowledged, studied, and appropriately reclaimed as a memorial park:
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Thank you
for joining us at the the
3rd annual commemoration of Gabriel's Rebellion and Richmond's African Burial Ground:
VOICES OF RESISTANCE AND RECLAMATION
Spoken Word Slam & Music Fest, October 8, 2005 - 8:00 pm to Midnight @ Tropical Soul in Jackson Ward - FEATURING
THE ON-TARGET TALENTS OF Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble (Raleigh, NC) and Bread is Rising
Poetry Collective (New York, NY) and 4 local spoken word artists.
SITES OF SIGNIFICANCE / STORIES
OF RESISTANCE AND RECLAMATION Symposium, October 9, 2005 - 3:30 to 6:30 pm @ Centenary United Methodist Church, 4th &
E. Grace Sts. 5:30 pm Reception. Presenters included contributors from the College of William & Mary (Williamsburg
Va.), the Smithsonian Institution (Washington DC), the Natiodnal Trust for Historic Preservation (Washington DC), Center for
African & African American Research (Fredericksburg Va.) and the Sacred Ground Project (Richmond Va.).
SYMPOSIUM & slamfest FLIER
SLAMFEST & symposium FLIER
10/10/04 Program: Seminar on Slavery & Marker Unveiling
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