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Tag: 1619 Project

  • Virginia Dedicates $9M African Landing Memorial

    In a significant act of remembrance, community members and state leaders gathered in Hampton, Virginia, to dedicate the African Landing Memorial Plaza. This new memorial marks the precise location where the first documented enslaved Africans arrived in Virginia over 400 years ago, a somber yet crucial moment in the nation’s history.

    Honoring the First Arrivals

    The memorial site commemorates the arrival of Africans brought to Virginia in 1619. These individuals were taken from Luanda, Angola, and transported across the Atlantic aboard the ship São João Bautista. The memorial serves as a powerful reminder of the violence that shaped the nation’s past and continues to influence its present, deepening our understanding of slavery’s profound and lasting effects.

    Fort Monroe Authority CEO Scott Martin spoke at the dedication event on April 24th, emphasizing the importance of storytelling: “It’s often said that you need story more than food to survive… The descendants are with us today, the story is with us today… and when you sit out here at sunrise or sunset, you watch the land speak to you.”

    A $9 Million Project Rooted in History

    The African Landing Memorial Plaza, inspired by the Sankofa symbol—representing the philosophy of learning from the past to build a successful future—cost $9 million to construct. This pedestrian-only plaza incorporates design elements that reflect its historical significance. Wanda Tucker, who traces her lineage to Isabella and Antony, among the first documented enslaved Africans in Virginia, shared her deep emotional connection to the site.

    “Very rarely am I speechless, but this one feels so deep,” Tucker said. “There’s a history here as to how Angolans first arrived and all the 400-plus years of history, construction of American history, that we have brought since the beginning. I don’t want that history to be missed in any way.”

    Commitment to Preservation and Education

    Governor Abigail Spanberger pledged the Commonwealth of Virginia’s commitment to protecting and stewarding the memorial. “The Commonwealth of Virginia will protect and steward this memorial, and we will make sure it is here for the generations who will stand on this ground and learn its stories,” she stated. “It is up to us, all of us, to tell these stories with the honesty and grace they deserve.”

    The dedication is just the beginning. Plans are in motion for the installation of statues later this summer, along with other features that will further enrich the visitor experience. Fort Monroe Authority Executive Director Scott Martin described the memorial as “almost like a book of essays with this memorial, much like the African experience in America over 400 years.”

    What does this memorial mean to you? How important is it to acknowledge and learn from difficult historical events? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

  • Nikole Hannah-Jones Opens Brooklyn Literary Salon

    Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and creator of the renowned “1619 Project,” Nikole Hannah-Jones, is embarking on an exciting new venture! She’s launching a literary salon in Brooklyn called The North Star Books + Bar, aiming to create a vibrant hub for Black writers and foster a strong sense of community within the literary world.

    A Space for Black Voices

    Located in a two-story brick building at the corner of Macon Street and Marcus Garvey Boulevard – a site that formerly housed the long-standing Black-owned Macon Hardware – The North Star Books + Bar is designed to celebrate Black literary talent, both established and emerging. The space will feature a first-floor café and bar, a dedicated book and event area, and upstairs micro-residencies for visiting writers.

    These visiting writers will lead workshops, readings, and engage directly with the community, enriching the literary landscape of Brooklyn. Hannah-Jones, a Brooklyn resident for nearly 15 years, has long hosted writer salons in her home and is now eager to bring that intimate energy to a public space for everyone to enjoy.

    Inspired by the Harlem Renaissance

    Hannah-Jones drew inspiration from the legendary Harlem Renaissance, envisioning a public salon that captures its spirit. She told Harper’s Bazaar, “I started holding these writers’ salons at my house within a year of moving to New York. I felt that young Black writers needed to have a place where they could be with their heroes, where we could do readings.” She recalled Ta-Nehisi Coates reading an early draft of his book on her stoop, highlighting the power of such gatherings.

    The North Star Books + Bar is set to become more than just a bookstore or a bar; it’s envisioned as “a space where creative folks can come together and exchange knowledge, ideas, literature, art.” This initiative extends Hannah-Jones’s commitment beyond journalism and education, focusing on cultivating cultural infrastructure within Black communities.

    Programming and Community Engagement

    • Opening planned for early 2026.
    • Activities will include author talks and community book clubs.
    • Partnerships with local schools and cultural institutions are planned.
    • Focus on deepening literary engagement in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood.
    • Aims to be a foothold for Black New Yorkers in a gentrifying area.

    While the official opening date is still being finalized, programming is expected to kick off in early 2026. This venture represents a significant step in anchoring literature, culture, and community in Bed-Stuy for the long term, offering a vital space for Black New Yorkers.

    What do you think about Nikole Hannah-Jones opening The North Star Books + Bar? Are you excited about this new literary space in Brooklyn? Share your thoughts in the comments below!