REMEMBRANCE COMMEMORATION 2021
Charleston, South Carolina
On Saturday June 12, 2021 from 10:00am – 2:00pm EST, the Charleston Area Branch Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) Remembrance Committee hosts Virtual REMEMBRANCE 2021.
Included in the program, a welcome by Mr. Jerome Harris, President, Charleston Area Branch ASALH, the program Occasion by Ms. Dena Davis, the Charleston Branch Historian and special greetings from the Charleston Branch Remembrance Committee Chairperson, Ms. Regina Williams. Dr. Tamara T. Butler, Executive Director of the College of Charleston’s Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture will be featured in an interview format. The Libation Ceremony at 12:00 Noon EST, officiated by Yoruba Priestess OsunWonuola EfunLayo pays homage to African Ancestors. Other features include historic footage recorded by Videographer Brenda J. Peart with memorable moments from past Charleston Remembrance Programs, and footage from the Diaspora showcasing the continuity of culture. “Connecting the dots across the Diaspora!”
The annual commemoration provides an opportunity for members of the African-descended community to collectively remember the millions of Africans — men, women, and children, who were sold, kidnapped, shipped away from their homeland, and who died along the route from Africa to the Americas. By remembering, we honor and restore the humanity of the nameless faceless Ancestors, disrupt the collective amnesia, and continue the process of healing from the fear, pain, guilt and shame of the experience that continues to traumatize the African descended community. Additionally, we seek the restoration of cultural identity, dignity and pride.
REMEMBRANCE programs (aka Tribute to the Ancestors) are conducted in various National and International locations. All people of African heritage are strongly encouraged participate. For information visit our Facebook page.
IF WE DON’T REMEMBER AND HONOR THEM – WHO WILL!
Join us Saturday June 12, 2021, 10:00 am – 2:00pm on Facebook LIVE: Charleston Middle Passage Remembrance
https://www.facebook.com/CHSRemembrance
YouTube LIVE: Charleston Middle Passage Remembrance
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnovs_BoB7SeeI2e19v5OXg
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REMEMBRANCE Inspiration: “All those Africans in the briny deep. All those people who said ‘no’ and jumped ship. All those people who tried to figure a way to steer, to navigate amongst the sharks. We don’t call upon that power… upon those spirits. We don’t celebrate those ancestors. We don’t have a marker, an expression, a song that we use to acknowledge them. We have nothing to indicate that those are our people and they mattered … we don’t tap into the ancestral presence in the waters.” ––Toni Cade Bambara (1987)
“Spirit of the Dead, rise up and claim your story.” ––Introduction to the film “Sankofa” (1993)
“If the Atlantic were to dry up, it would reveal a scattered pathway of human bones, African bones marking the various routes of the Middle Passage.” ––Dr. John Henrik Clarke’s introduction to “The Middle Passage: Black Ships/White Cargo” by Tom Feelings (1995)
The Charleston Remembrance Program is a sponsored by:
Charleston Branch ASALH Remembrance Committee
Charleston Area Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History 