First African Landing Day: Press On

When you go home, >> when you go home, take a then listen to the message. >> Let's hug it out. Now, >> you'll be like, >> "Yeah, how are you? >> I love the shirt. I love Indian." >> But the t-shirt is gone. >> Yes, ma'am. How much are the shirts? >> Donations. >> Yeah. >> That's That's extra large. >> Okay. Got to go to one of the stands and get me I think I'm extra extra large. >> Oh, okay. Well, we don't have those. These are all the sizes, all the t-shirts. >> I thought I would beautifully designed. >> Mhm. I was considering maybe ming up for um the commemoration with this. >> What? >> Where you going? If you don't have a SD card in here, in there. >> I don't know. That's what I wanted you to figure out. >> Oh, what I was just what I was just talking about was the possibility of >> just taking that up to the >> taking that up to the sound guy up there and ming up. is because there's not a lot of microsources because the other thing that this doesn't have is a wind filter. So when there's wind >> Yeah. You know what? You're probably right. >> That's the best way to navigate those. >> All right. Forget about that. >> The handheld mic, the other one was for just this booth right here. We were going to hook it up directly to that >> and just do some interviews came through. >> Okay. Um and somehow I was trying to figure out how to get >> that. Yeah. See, the laptop is here. >> Um I have a laptop here. >> The media laptop. >> Okay. It's not It's not down. If you want to go up again, you can. It's in the office. >> You're But you're [music] see right now, right? >> I I have two laptops back here. >> Hey, Kirsten. How are >> you? I'll be If you don't see me a little later, I'll be having it before 3. Good >> to see you. Come on. We'll talk more about this later. But what we know today is is that because of civil rights, watch this. We f to pivot. Hold on. BECAUSE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, THAT made democracy possible. Come on, somebody. >> So, SO REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS that same thing in Genesis, because this is the tradition of my faith is is in Genesis 50:20. When Joseph LOOKED AT HIS BROTHERS AND SAID, "THAT thing that you meant harm for me," >> God used it for good. >> Yeah. >> God used it for good. >> So, what we know is is that this This is uh 407 years after the arrival of Africans on Point Comfort and at a moment when the civil rights infrastructure that's built out built out in the struggle built out in the struggle against slavery, the struggle against racial apartheid is being systematically dismantled. Black Verers are calling on the state to meet the nation uh the state and the nation to meet this this challenge right now. So So what we're doing here today is so important and this is the only thing and then I'm going to be done. I'm going to come back and tell you more. The only thing that I want anybody here to get out of this is try to learn something today. >> Try to learn something [applause] today. try to learn something today because the story a lot of times we become so incredibly impatient uh that we we don't have time for the rest of the story. The story doesn't end at slavery. The story does not end at reconstruction. The story does not end at the backlash of reconstruction. The story does not end at a period of a hundred years of lynching and old Jim Crow South. The story does not end uh at during the civil rights movement. The story uh does not end during the demise of the rights that we fought for, nor does it end with George Floyd, a public lynching that occurred in front of everybody during lockdown. The story does not end as the federal government upends everything that we fought for with the blood of folks across Edund Pettis Bridge. The story doesn't end because we march on. Because everybody here, we are ALL ARCHITECTS OF A NEW AMERICA. SO, I'll come back and give you a little bit more on the commemoration, but the again, the most important thing that you can do while you're here today is to >> learn >> learn something. >> Yeah. >> Say it to me. >> The most important thing that you can do while you're here today is >> learn. >> And this is the one thing that I'm going to leave with you and then I'm going to get out of here. And that is this day occurs every single year on the fourth Saturday of August. This is the eighth year that we've done it. Ask yourself why you didn't know that. >> That is your definition of systemic racism. >> And think about everything else that's scheduled and that's happening currently that's going on today around us. Did they know? >> Did Maybe they did. Maybe they didn't. The point is is now you got an invite. Put it on your calendar. Stay tuned. I'll be around. >> All right. Make some noise for Reverend Mark Hughes. Thank you. Thank you for those important words. I just wanted to make sure I made some more shout outs. Uh we have the League of Women Voters here. Also to my right waving at you who are here supporting the Vermont Secretary of State who could not be here. To my left we have the root social justice center that is being represented by our sister Cheyenne from I am Vermont 2. Important work that she does to make sure that we are historicizing and having documented conversations from folks who are impacted and are part of our community. We also have Vermont Developmental Disabilities Council also to my left waving at you. And we also have seniors working together for our climate and democracy also to my left waving at you. So again, we just want to make you aware of the folks who are in the room and are part of these conversations and are part of our community so that you can continue to build community and the relationships that will foster the kind of vision we want moving forward. >> The next person I'd like to bring up is a poet. She is an educator, multid-disciplinary artist, and someone who every time she speaks has the kind of gravitas that makes the room pause and take heed. Please make some noise for Kia Ray Henry. >> I've seen you before. I saw you pull up. >> Oh, yeah. >> Jarvis. >> Jarvis. I'm David. David, >> I've seen you at the camp center. I've seen you at the camp center. Good to see you, man. I hope you're all having good bless. >> I am here to share two poems with you and I was told to guide everyone to the registration. >> I am an educator and an artist >> as a natural natural result of being those two things. I am also an activist. Um I am a biracial black woman. I was born and raised in Montilia, Vermont. Um, I'm gonna perform in a second. I just wanted to give you some context for this first poem. Um, and for a very long time, I struggled with my own racial identity. Um, my first poem was written over six years ago. And it was written because I decided at midnight that I wanted to go out for a walk to the gas station to get a pint of ice cream. and I thought I was being followed by a police cruiser. Um, and I wrote this poem about it and then I performed it again and again and then I started secondguessing that experience. Um, and even just that in in itself is a whole can of worms we don't have time to get into. Um, but this this poem is the result of reflecting and dissecting and analyzing um and thinking about what it really means to be a biracial black woman in this state. um and what my role is. Um, >> and you know, a key element of persisting is committing ourselves to lifelong learning and making sure that our youth have access to true history and to um to history and to educators that reflect the global majority and um in ways and for them to be able to learn how others before them have persisted and thrived. because it's hard to persist when you haven't been shown examples. >> So, all that to be said, this first poem is called uh a poem uh Black Teachers Matter, a poem to check my own privilege. >> And like I said, this is written six years ago. I've done a little bit of learning and unlearning since then. Um but the central message of it, I believe, is the same. Part one. >> Black kids need black role models to follow and discuss. >> Who we're shown we must be is unjust. Our image is scarred and encrusted in mistrust. God forbid we adjust our stance since we probably have a weapon to thrust. We're mocked for making a fuss, but we're slaughtered and surplus. Forgive me if I cuss, but you won't let us breathe. >> And thus, kids need to see themselves accurately reflected in us. >> They need to make connections of joy and success and know that we don't have to be oppressed or take things in. Yes, we've progressed, but we still live our lives in a state of constant distress, >> still detested, arrested for non-aggression, and forced into confession. But every time I address this, I silently question, am I on a self-righteous mission to change perception by being the exception? More importantly, is my complexion even black enough to be part of an accurate reflection? >> The protection the protection of white misdirection in the curriculum section occurs with the selection of school teachers with features akin to the textbook reach. who can accurately recite the right speech and teach an array of nationally approved attitudes. All the while only alluding to what they call racial feud. Conveniently excluding all the times we were inhumanely pursued, repeatedly screwed and viciously devalued. We get represented with hard sorry with hardly any mention of our resilience and fortitude. We get represented as having lesser aptitude, bigger attitude, defiantly rude or in need just grateful to have been freed from servitude. How are you? >> I'm good. How you doing? >> But who will teach us if no one was taught? >> Part two. >> I didn't grow up with people of color around. No one brown to look up to and admire. >> A white choir and I was always out of tune. >> The situation was so dire. It's it's not profound. I thought my dad was every six foot bald black man I found. >> "Oh no, honey, that's not your father," was my mother's response when I'd inquire. But what bothers me most is what transpired the first time I was in a room with only black people gathered. >> I was lthered in love and grace. I was a teen embraced in my family space. We danced and I could keep up the pace. Yet not enough to erase the feeling of being misplaced. Not not having a sense of belonging to their space. I felt as though I had slathered on blackface, quietly snuck into the place and tried to pretend I was the same race. >> My self-doubt was built by teachers who preached to my peers with an with a subconscious fear. Their well-meaning donation to the black narration to the creation of the black narration is seated in their need to feel freed from ancestral guilt. And now that spilled into their professions and adapted the lessons, quilting my education in their quest for to fulfill a personal reparation and steer their conscious into the clear without awaiting our direction or truly hearing our pleas wondering if life is a fever dream. Can you not hear our screams? >> And we demand too much when we ask for equality. You see, I was 13 and they failed to interfere. >> We're too cavalier and frankly insincere. >> When Lacy braced me against a locker down the hall and shocker, she called me a dirty [ __ ] Part three. >> Does my pale non-male privilege present a softer edge against which to compare? My darker sisters and brothers aren't safe anywhere from the stairs, the glares, the hateful adrenaline, and fatal blue bullets polluting the air. >> I was pushed into a locker one time, >> but with a furrowed brow, Ben & Jerry's, and a bottle of wine at 12:09, are the cops really inclined to transform me into a chalk line? >> Or am I fine, just assigning myself a trauma that isn't actually mine? Why am I up here? >> Who decided I was qualified to talk about this? >> I can't begin to tell you how uncomfortable I feel every time I read these lines. My insides are really the only way towards healing is through acknowledgement, ownership, and dealing. >> These are freaks. >> And I remind myself that no matter how uncomfortable I'm feeling, >> it's nothing compared to the pops. And immediately I feel like an impostor, obnoxiously bathing in my light-skinned privilege, wondering if like my voice is too whiny and white as I stand here in the spotlight without my while communities are outright paged to make room for the white image, [laughter] demoting genocide, and scrimmage, canceling lineages. Who am I to think I'm black enough? Sure, I've had it kind of tough, but I've never felt handcuffed, never been handled rough or accused of falsehood or bluff. >> One look at me and the color of my hand. Will they know it's only a fault? >> Life in Vermont is all I've ever known, and I'm still prone to throw stones in my own home. See, I've done things that I don't condone, but >> but the seeds are still sewn by the pale tone of everyone's face. >> Do I worry too much about race? >> Do I have valuable insight? Do I even belong in this fight? >> Is my skin dark enough to be a part of this space? How can I ever learn to embrace my sense of self I've misplaced? And how can I stand here if that's the case and complain with my blackish face that racism isn't as bad for me? A pale-faced wannabe. These doubts of identity and self are deeply rooted in the foundation of who I am. Part four. And each time they arise, I am reminded of myself. >> See, I never saw myself on the shelf of possibility. I am now what I never had then. >> And when I look into the mirror, I say again and again. >> I am not perfection. But I have affection for my complexion. I can now be a reflection for other lost girls who hated their curls. with the skin the color of lattes and button noses with freckles and complicated hair regimens. Who hear again and again, "Lol, I'm darker than you." from their white friends who truly did mean well in the end. Who talk like super white but still can't pretend to blend or fit the trends. who can't sing or dance or ball. And for as long as they can recall, their names have been relentlessly mispronounced when when roll call is rung every damn fall. >> Take your order. >> Who don't know that being black can be fun. >> Who hold bitter rust from the brine of biting their tongue. Who have only begun to exist and be young. This cycle is of the self-preservation kind. >> It dines on the demolished dreams of our suppressed minds. So any success I experience is expressed as anxiety, an impulse to stop and think about the robberous of fraud and validity constructed from impostors syndrome and reinforced by societal rigid rigidity. I see now in my students features I never saw in my teachers. >> So, I'mma give myself a round of applause >> because I am now what no one was. >> Thank you. [applause] [applause] >> Thank you. So, that was obviously about a lot of self-doubt in my identity. Um there's always a lot of learning and unlearning as I said so some of those lines don't really even resonate with me anymore but it resonated with me at a point and so that felt important to share >> this next poem and my last poem is shorter. It's a much different vibe. Uh this is my absolute favorite poem. I invite you to either take a soft downward gaze at the ground or find a beautiful view. There's so much gorgeous greenery around us. There's a blue sky above us. >> Or you can close your eyes or you can look at me and this is called I hope your flowers bloom. From all of me to each of you, >> I hope this poem lifts your mood. >> As deep and true as the oceans blue, I hope you find and put down roots. >> I hope your leaves reach up and open wide, welcoming the light as love rains down from brilliant fire. I hope you feel supported >> by the dirt beneath your toes. >> Sturdy, secure, and nurtured. I hope your soul forever grows. >> I hope the wind bends you kindly, >> softly swaying with the moon. >> To the tune of gentle bird, be at midnight or high noon. I hope you reap the fruits your lovely grew >> fully formed and ripened to the most vibrant tender hues. I hope you know you're radiant. Your glow brightens this very room and your colors make me happy in a state of gray and gloom. If not now, I hope you get to shine real soon because seeds sewn and nurtured spread leaves and spread out roots. The light that's within me honors the light that's within you. >> And I hope your wildest flowers always dare to bloom. >> Thank you. One more time for Kia Ray Henry. Y'all give it up. >> Thank you. Um, as we get ready for this next act, I just want to cue you to the fact that Empress Levi Soul Food will be nourishing our bodies today. You can find that tent located pretty centrally next to the hearth. I think that's how that word is pronounced. >> I think that's >> Yeah. Is that close somewhat? Okay. You know, it's not it's not my first language. So, I was born in Ghana, so this thing is >> although people like to remind me that I did get my masters in English, so I should not be able to use that excuse. Okay, this next act is a locally based group, but what they are is Vermont based, but they are a hip-hop an Afroopop group that is formed from musicians from various African traditions and nations, merging traditional African styles with western pop and dance. >> The group whose name stands for Africa to Vermont performs in multiple languages and has been an active part of the New England music scene for a decade. So, as we get ready to bring them on, I would love I would love for you to give a warm welcome to 8 to VT. Make some noise for 8 to VT. >> I promise you're going to love it. >> That's closest I think we have it, but not I think we need real systemic change. >> Yeah. >> And nobody really advocates for that. >> Okay. You got a phone? You got your phone with you? >> Um, my phone's in the car. Get it. >> Okay. When you come back, you can scan this. We can have a talk. >> I just overheard that you are say that you got a candidate. >> A candidate for governor. >> June. Good. >> So, June, this is also going to be a bit of a interview kind of spot throughout the day. Um, so if you feel like sharing or being a part of any type of conversation, feel free to just like check around here every once in a while. Um, if you'd like to add your thoughts about the space and then talk about what you what you >> Yes. So, feel free to just like, you know, mos around and if you want to just drop on and leave a word by >> Okay, great. >> Yeah, I got here late because a couple hours and your presence is right on time. So yeah, feel free to check out things and when you feel like dropping off a word, you'll see if no one's already starting doing that, you can feel free to do the same thing, >> right? >> Great. Thank you. >> That's my voice. >> Yeah. Check them out. Check them out. >> We all Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> I don't really care [music] what you go, what you do, but you don't really care what it do. Go give it baby. Can you give me dance? Can you give me [music] give it to me now? She can do things. If if she want to do, we can do it my way. If she want to go, we can hit the highway. [music] The way she walk. Got to say that she rock the world. Want to make a move. She already know. She's the only one I want. Girl, the [music] way you talk, what you talking the [singing] way she want. She walking the way she dance. What she dancing the way she want? [music] >> Amazing. This girl love >> I don't really care what [music] you do. What do go crazy [music] baby? [music] When you see When you see me put your body close to me right now. [music] >> [music] >> Don't really care what [music] you do. What I do, what I go for, my lady. Everything I do [music] for a lady want to come down. Bring it down. Bring it deep. Love me cuz I got the flow. Love those girls. So come the party. Love those girls. Come [music] to party. One for the money, two for the show. Clap your hands up if you get big. One for the [music] money, two for the show. Clap your hands if you get big. One for the money. For the money, do it for the show. For the show. Time to get ready. Here we go. [music] >> How you guys doing? >> I don't really care what you don't care what I do. [music] Go. >> Let's get it. >> Yeah, I hear you. Just relax. >> I'm doing good. >> How we doing now? >> Uh, >> huh? >> No, I got to be at the police. >> This is a [music] one time only. >> Check it out on YouTube. Hey, >> one [music] time only. All you girls want to come to me. >> One time, one time, >> one time only. Yeah. [music] Yeah. You girls will fall in love with me. One time only. All you girls want to come to me. >> One time, one time. >> One time only. [music] Yeah. Yeah. You girls will fall in love. Any time she's feeling kind of lonely and she calls my phone that me. She's a type. She will never leave me. And she makes my bed keep rocking. I let her do anything she want to do. Every time that she come around me, I guess they know that I'm [music] giving that love. And she don't want to see you again. Only one chance that I'm giving her. And if she acting funny, then I'mma [music] leave her. I guess they know that. I guess they know that. I guess they know that. She know that. One time only. Are you going to come to me? [music] >> One time. One time. >> One time only. Yeah. Yeah. You going to fall in love, baby. [music] One time only. Or you going to come to me. >> One time, one time, >> one time only. Yeah. Yeah. You going to fall in love? Any time I leave the home alone, [music] she waiting for me to check in. When I come back, she hits me like she miss me. I guess they know that she is my girl. I'm a real [music] understand girl of me. Don't worry about it. Just another one. [music] Only one go. That's all I'm looking for. My heart is still going. You're my girl. I don't want to use you. My love is still going. [music] You're my girl. I don't want to lose you. One time only. Are you going to come to me? One time only. Yeah. Yeah. You going to fall in love with me. One time only. Are you [music] going to come to me? >> One time only. Yeah. Yeah. [music] You going to fall in love? Take your time slow. [music] Come on. One time only. Are you going to come to me? One time. One time only. [music] Yeah. Yeah. You going to fall in love? One time only. Are you going to come to me? >> One time. One time. [music] >> One time only. Yeah. Yeah. You going [singing] to fall in love, baby. One time only. [music] Are you going to come to me? One time. >> One time only. [music] Yeah. Yeah. You going to fall in love, baby? doing a damn thing. I'mma [music] set this up so it's um going straight to his um his connection. >> I know you don't either. Okay. Okay. >> Okay. Okay. >> I may need this your help. >> This I'm a soul survivor. [music] >> She know. If you don't know now, you will know. >> I want you sing along with me. >> Yes. Yes. I'm a soul survivor. [music] I'm a soul survivor. Yes. Yes. Yes. I'm a soul survivor [music] surviv. [music] >> I'm just a young man coming from the street. Looking for a way to get out of this. Sounds so hot. My time's in the way. I got to find a key to help me break [music] free. I'm trying to be me. I can say come to us. [music] I got to go get it. >> Okay. Okay. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. I'm a soul survivor. [music] I'm a soul surviv. [music] I'm a soul surviv. [music] Yes. I'm [singing] a soul survival. Everywhere I go and the people love me with me survival can [music] survival and clear. >> I'm not the only one you see us everywhere but I see one feeling. Yeah. Yesterday was a dark day [music] and the light is so far away and nobody got to hold you down and try to make the morning for you and me and the freeh. I'm so everywhere I go and the people I'm survival [music] everywhere I go to the front street close to the But now [music] for the right to be free but dream not to be no one. Don't feel like I see no gun. All [music] real. >> We're here for a reason. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Look. >> Beautiful. Just beautiful. >> I think it's shrinking. >> Yeah. Must be the shirt. It's the shirt. >> What size do you have? >> It's shrinking, JEFFY. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. IT'S just shrinking. >> It's all right. >> I'm going up a level. >> Okay. >> How's the wife? How's the wife? >> There's bushes back here. >> A lot of pain. >> I thought you were just going to be home today. You got there's a lot of people to keep in mind here. >> I mean, >> you having you in the room makes a difference, though, man. I'm serious. Having you in the room makes a huge difference. >> Thank you. I'm I'm so glad to be working with you. >> I'm so glad to be working with you. [applause] >> I have her number. I can call. >> Yeah. Just can you call her, please? >> Yeah. >> That's That's that Irish part of it. >> I'm sorry. Did I mess up your table? Okay. >> Talk to Go ahead. talk to him >> and he know I will >> go ahead. Do your thing. No, I could fix it. >> I didn't do that, right? >> Yeah, that's okay. That's okay. >> That's mine. >> Yeah. Okay, that's okay. >> But if you can sell it. >> No, that's okay. By donation, I'm just trying to keep >> Is there Can we Can we zoom in on that at all? >> Um remember, um Chuck got you on that. I don't want to make Oh, you mean talk about right here. >> So, that's your That's you already answered. >> So, whenever you're ready, But we're picking up on them too as well when we >> in the back. Well, the microphone right there is going to be this area wherever. And then >> is that one on? >> Yeah. All you got to do is switch it on and then it'll be connected to directly in so you can just start talking. >> Sit yourself. Seat yourself. Put yourself in the center. And then I'll clean it up around. [music] Yeah, check it out. >> It's Reverend Mark Hughes. I've got some head headphones if if you want to. >> Yeah, I can see this. I can see the signal. Yeah, but I can check it, too. >> It's in one of these bags. It's Reverend Mark Hughes. I'm the executive director of the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, and we are at First African Landing Day 2026. It's called press on. Press on. Having done all we can do uh to stand uh during this time, uh what we want to do is we want to continue to press. Uh so we've got a lot of stuff going on out here today. I'm going to be uh coming at you from time to time periodically during the afternoon. Currently, right now, you hear in the background, A2VT is on the stage. Uh they're ripping it up. Uh we're we're we've got a I think Jeff is going to be in the house later on. What an amazing uh group they are. But let's not forget what we're here for. What we know and understand is this is all about the legacy of slavery. This is all about the legacy of slavery. What we're looking at here is is just knowing and understand the story of 1619. We want you to know and understand the story of 1619 because that was when we first got here. We want you to know and understand that were it not for the legacy of slavery that civil rights would have never been necessary. They would have never been necessary. But what we know is when we achieve civil rights, as flawed as they were, as flawed as they were, the civil rights that we were able to achieve, what we know is is that there has never been a time in history where black folks [music] have perceived civil rights in and of themselves. So we brought along the disabilities community. We were able to bring along the LGBTQIA community, folks who are, you know, the aging community and more and more and more. We know that right now that civil rights at the national level have have been completely upended. But right now, what we're doing together is we're continue to build this multigenerational and this multi-racial uh democracy. What we're doing right now is we're moving towards a more perfect union. So what we're doing is we're reconstructors. We are we are um we are authors. We are founders today and we are architects. So that's what we're here to do. We're here to learn. Uh we're here to heal. We're here to grow. So welcome. Welcome. First African landing day. We're we're going to be coming back to you here uh with more and more and more. First African landing day 2026. Press on. Press on. Come on y'all. Press on. >> We'll be back. >> All right. So he doesn't have an offer. There you go. Right there. Look, that's recording, man. >> Nobody seen. >> Good thing I didn't cuss. >> Yeah, it's a good thing I didn't cuss. >> Even if you did, you can scrub it later. >> It's a good thing she didn't cuss. >> So, you good thing I didn't get on this one's nerve. >> So, this So, this is this is hot. >> Yeah. So, you can just like curve it right there. Um, the goal is that whenever somebody's coming, you just have them sit down and then do a quick, >> you know, flight convo. Okay. So, I can I can like sit here. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> You can have another chair. >> Yeah. Right here. Like if it's me. >> Yeah. Come on. Up and down. >> Isn't that This place isn't >> this >> um the bridge between is not yet. He's going to get us right now. >> Yeah, right now. See, right here. >> You're going to be a part of a conversation, too. Come on over here. Bring your chair back over here. >> I got you. >> Grab a shirt. >> Yes. >> I got you. >> That's the largest. >> Yeah. >> Chris, say $37 though. I got forgot to tell you, man. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> For you though, I'm going to give you a discount. >> Oh, thank you so much. >> I'm I'm just going to say we'll pay you to take it. >> All right. Well, thank you so much. I appreciate it. Enjoy. >> Okay. >> I think Yeah, I think we get him. >> Oh, he got a heart out. >> See, >> let me let me interview y'all. Okay. >> Yeah, >> I'm going to interview y'all. >> Charlie, how many how many minutes you got? [music] >> I don't think we have much. >> Three minutes. Three four minutes. You don't need to look into the You don't need to look into the camera. Just look right over his right shoulder. Or else look at me. Don't look in the camera. >> Hey, welcome. Welcome. Welcome. We are here at First African Landing Day. This is the eighth year in a row we've been doing this. This is uh today it is press on. The the um the theme of today is press on. Uh we are we're here. We're we're talking about, you know, what is it what does it mean to press on and I just want to talk a little bit to y'all because I want to hear from our people. Um so so definitely um I know both of you guys have been at these events before. What does it mean to you and why are we here? Uh Winnie. >> Yeah, my name is Winnie Wilkinson, host of Hey Neighborh and a resident of Tiplin County. I am here today because I am an immigrant. I am a product of slavery. I am a product of what it is to go through the process to get to progress. And in order for us to get to progress, we must come together at events like this, have teachable moments and have that interaction with each other. Different generation, different skin color, tall, skinny, whatever. We must come together as [music] human beings to make this event the event to be at every year. >> I'm so glad you're here with us and thank you. Thank you so much. You've been behind this table the entire time. >> It's so you Roy. You been been back here and I know I saw you bounce over into the barn and I saw you all over the ground. What does this mean to you? I know you've been around for a while too and you've been to a few of these [music] events. What does it mean to you? >> Just the social connection. It's good to see all of us here. different family backgrounds, different diasporic regions. It's good to see us just whole space together and have conversations, check in with each other and volunteer. It's a big shout out to all the volunteers that come out from the kids center to [music] uh to those who are helping, you know, keep us hydrated. A lot of different faces out here this year and I'm glad to to be a part of it. >> Yeah, we're we're glad you're here, too. 1619. There's a there's a theme that runs through this this event. Ever since the beginning that we started this in in 2019, it's always been about 1619. We've always brought the 1619 traveling exhibit. Winnie, I know you're very familiar with it because I've seen you spend a lot of time in the Richard Kim Center on it. What does it mean to you and how does that connect to what we're doing here today? >> I have teachable moments because I was not aware that there were slaves that landed in Virginia. I was always taught because I was born under the British flag. I was taught about New York in North Carolina and South Carolina and Mississippi. I was taught about Virginia. So that was teachable moments to me and so I start researching and realizing wow wow it was amazing. And when I did the research about an old land, >> it is also closely related to the Ivory Coast modern day Ghana. >> That's true. >> And it's closely related to Togo. And then the names in my family because we were our ances we were our slave master's um name. Sanskil dump bandis >> is all is all through that same slave trade. >> I really appreciate you. I really appreciate both of you coming. We're going to have to call it more after now. Thank you so much for supporting being here. Your presence, it means everything to us this year. You've heard it here. Uh this is uh first African landing day 2026. Press on. Press on. >> Yes. So this is Charles. Feel free to keep >> Okay, this is his check in. So he can plug in and and get his >> So feel free to do the same thing here. You can just like that's going to be going on this side. >> Yeah. >> And um yeah, just be if nobody's here. Somebody's here anytime. If you want to do it and do a little talk about that too, you can. >> Yeah, of course. Keep everythingity served on the board of directors. Yeah, that's Matthew. >> That's Matt. >> Matt, he goes to the congregation church next people. >> Hey, what's up? >> I need to hug y'all >> and get t-shirts. I've been meeting, >> right? >> Sure. I mean, all right. Sure. Let's >> get Let's go. You know what? Anxiety. You know what's crazy? >> Anxiety and excitement are two sides of the same coin. >> Two sides of the same coin. You're >> not going to use this. >> What's up? >> Hi. >> What's good? >> What's up? >> How you doing? Put your blanket down and just go ahead and like >> Yeah. And just what >> you know it's like you got the grass. >> Y'all good. Are y'all hungry? >> Look at that line. Look how slow. >> Straight up. I'm gonna introduce I'll be back. >> Welcome, welcome, welcome. This is Reverend Mark Hughes. This is First African Landing Day. We're here and we got our guest here with us. And and what's your name, sir? >> I'm Julian. >> Julian. Pleasure. Good. We're glad to hear you. So, this is First African Landing Day. Have you Have you ever been to this event before? What do you think about it? >> I actually have not been to this Oh, thank you. Sorry. My fault. Sorry about that. Oh, yeah. I can have my So, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, um, no, I've never been to this event before. Um, I was invited here by Tank and I'm glad I I'm glad I know this is a thing now. And uh yeah, my my friend Tank who's helping out, he invited me here and to help out. And I I'm the well the wellness guy and I really appreciate the fact the opportunity to be part of this. And I really appreciate the fact that like everyone is gathering here and just you know honestly for me like the for even when I'm just doing this part of it the wellness I think human nature in general is like people need to look after each other and for a long time I think that especially right now in a country that's struggling especially with like isolation and being like separated. I I think that it's really important that everybody recognize everybody else, you know, and it's really important to like to see like for me it's like seeing past like everything. It's like looking into the soul and seeing people for who they are. And I really love I really love the for me it's the opportunity. I do a lot of meditation. I do a lot of um like mindfulness practice. And look, I'm not perfect. No one is like I I struggle with a lot of um like like ADHD and mental conditions, you'll say. And but for me it's like I always love helping people. The reason like Tank put me on and like I've had a really good connection with him is because like I there was a without getting into details um situation I ended up kind of being inadvertently a part of that I helped out when it was a dangerous situation. I was security without being security. And uh anyways, yeah, I just I just really not to ramble on, but I really really appreciate being here. And it feels good ultimately to be part of something that's bigger than myself. >> Something bigger than yourself. >> Yeah. >> I want to thank you for coming out. Thank you for stopping by. You are always welcome at First African Landing Day. It is the fourth Saturday of every every August and you can look forward to it and we'll plan we'll reach out to you in advance. We'll plan it together because we want you to be a part of the planning phases of this. We want you to be deeply integrated in what it is that we're doing because you matter. You're important. You You're part of the family. >> Thank you so much. Thanks again. Awesome. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> You're welcome. That's it, folks. >> All right. I appreciate it. >> You're welcome. You're welcome.