Minneapolis To Commemorate 400 Years Of 'Resistance & Liberation'

From the City of Minneapolis:

Join in events commemorating 400 years of resistance and liberation of African Americans

To honor the 400-year commemoration of Africans being brought to Jamestown, Virginia, by the British and forced into slavery, the City of Minneapolis’ Division of Race and Equity is bringing City staff and residents together to remember the histories of African American people, recover the stories of oppression, resistance and liberation, and reimagine a future that is not predicated on the harm of African American people.

To that end, the Division of Race and Equity is hosting several activities this summer. Here are a few of those activities:

• We have contracted with 14 organizations that will host various activities throughout August and September, including the Week of Resilience Aug. 19-23. We hold this week sacred because Aug. 20, 1619, was the day that the British brought 20 people of African ascent to the United States and enslaved them. You can find the list of those activities here. Check back frequently for updates.
• Conversation on the importance of truth telling with Lissa Jones, the creator and host of KMOJ’s Urban Agenda as well as the host of the Givens Foundation podcast “Black Market Reads.” Jones will speak to why telling the truth about the history of racism in Minnesota is essential to our collective healing.Noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13City Hall, 350 S. Fifth St.You can register for the event through Facebook.
• Still Here: 400 Years of Resistance and Black Joy. We will reflect on the legacy of African Americans in this country, including how we have resisted and come through, and celebrate our persistent resilience and joy as we move forward. The event includes a lineup of speakers, performers and you. It’s kid-friendly and free.Find out more about the event, including how to register, on Facebook or the City website.

Visit the website for more information. Check back frequently for more events and opportunities.

Educational toolkit

This educational toolkit will do what our history books did not do: provide us with the real truth about who we are, who we have been, and where we are going. Each section provides you with a couple of articles and videos for you to increase in your knowledge, followed by reflection activities and additional resources for deeper development. Find the toolkit here.

This press release was produced by City of Minneapolis. The views expressed here are the author’s own.