First African Landing Commemorative Weekend
Fort Monroe, Hampton
August 22-25, 2019

Thousands attended the four-day First African Landing Commemorative weekend organized in partnership with the City of Hampton, Fort Monroe Authority, and the National Park Service. A series of events including a “political firsts” luncheon, cultural activities, musical performances, and public tours of Fort Monroe commemorated the 400th Anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in English-occupied North America at Point Comfort in 1619. A commemorative ceremony featuring local, state, and federal elected officials, special guests, and scholars included a keynote address by author, commentator, and CNN television host Van Jones. On Saturday evening, the African Landing Day Concert at Hampton Coliseum featured Common and Sounds of Blackness. Attendees during the weekend also previewed the Fort Monroe Visitor and Education Center, a legacy project of the commemoration, and participated in a national bell ringing ceremony and other Healing Day events produced by the National Park Service.