Conference Opens Dialogue about 1619
A Brief on the 1619 and the Making of America Conference
In preparation for the 400th anniversary of 1619, the Joseph Jenkins Roberts Institute for Africana Studies, Norfolk State University International Programs, the Virginia Historical Foundation for the Humanities, The College of William and Mary’s Middle Passage Project 1619 Initiative, William and Mary’s Lemon Project, the Norfolk State University Title III Honors College, and the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia, Inc. collaborated to sponsor the 1619 and the Making of America Conference. This conference was created to begin the discussion of 1619 and its impact and significance in American history.
The conference was opened by the coordinator, Professor Cassandra Newby-Alexander of the Joseph Jenkins Roberts Institute. Dr. Newby-Alexander, a William and Mary Ph.D. in History, serves on the advisory board of the Middle Passage Project 1619 Initiative. Opening prayer on day one was given by Vernon Fareed, Imam of Masjid William Salaam of Norfolk. On the second day of the conference Chief Walt “Red Hawk” Brown, of the Cheroenhaka Nottoway Indian Tribe (whose daughter Keisha attended William and Mary) gave the opening prayer. Greetings were brought by Dr. Sandre DeLoatch, Dr. Sandra DeSilva, Mr. Wayne Perry, Dr. Tony Atwater, the President of Norfolk State University, the Virginia House Delegate Honrable Algie T. Howell, Jr., the Honorable Paul D. Fraim, Mayor of Norfolk and the Honorable Molly Ward, Mayor of Hampton.
Professor Joanne Braxton read “Forgive,” a poem by Dr. Maya Angelou, followed by the rendition of a special spoken word performance of an original poem by Ms. Maya Maison, Dr. Angelou’s great niece, who traveled from Houston, Texas at the invitation of the College of William and Mary. Conference discussions on the first day began with “Novelists, Griots, Travel Writers, and Keepers of Sacred Stories” featuring William and Mary Professor and Lemon Project Co-Chair Dr. Jody L. Allen, Old Dominion University Professor Dr. Imatiaz Habib, Norfolk State University Professor Dr. Cathy Jackson, Founder and President of Project 1619 Inc. Calvin Pearson, and Dr. Timothy Robinson. The panel initiated a discourse about how 1619 and its aftermath was remembered by Africans, American Indians, and Europeans. “Rendering of American Indian Images” and “The Columbian Exchange and the Iberian Legacy in 1619” were also featured panels during this session. Panel members included Chief of the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia Lynette Allston, Dr. Drew Lopenzia, Dr. William Wiggins, Karenne Wood of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, Professor Dr. James Allegro, and Dr. James Bond. “Rendering of American Indian Images” discussed specifically how images of American Indians were depicted and the effect of 1619 on the American Indian culture. Dialogue on Spain and Portugal’s roles in 1619 as well as the impact transnational networks had on the American colonial experience were included in “The Columbian Exchange and the Iberian Legacy in 1619.”
This conference sparked significant intellectual dialogue about the importance of the year 1619 and its effect on the construction of America’s society and culture. The first day continued with panel discussions entitled “Becoming an American and the Spirit Voice,” “Consuming the Global Marketplace” and “The Creolization of America.” Featured panelists included William and Mary’s Middle Passage Project Director Professor Dr. Joanne Braxton, Rev. Dr. Seldan Harris, Dr. Stephanie Richmond, Dr. William Alexander, Dr. James La Fleur, Dr. Camellia Okpodu, Dr. Frederick Carroll, and Professor Robert Watson of Hampton University, a member of the College of William and Mary Middle Passage Project 1619 Advisory Committee. The panels discussed 1619’s influence on religion, family, and gender roles, how the intersection of American Indians, Africans, and Europeans effected the consumption of food, and how the politics of race were introduced to American society. Both days featured scholarly presentations by Dr. Linda Heywood, Dr. John Thornton, Dr. Ben Vinson III, Dr. Peter Wallenstein and Dr. Corey D.B Walker from Brown University. On the first day there was a presentation by the “Legacy of Weyanoke,” presented music from the traditions of persons of mixed red-black Native American Indian and African American culture. The second day featured a special presentation by Dr. Michael Blakey, director of the College of William and Mary’s Remembering Slavery, Resistance and Freedom Project.
The conference closed with a Ritual of Remembrance featuring aspects of African American and Native American ritual and created by Chadra Pittman Walke of the Sankofa Projects, and Professors Artisia Dallas-Green and Joanne Braxton from the College of William and Mary’s Middle Passage Project 1619 Initiative. This was the first in a series of conferences and symposia commemorating the founding of the House of Burgesses and the advent of women and African peoples in the English speaking Americas. The College of William and Mary Middle Passage Project is proud to be a partner in this effort.
Chantalle Ashford 2014
W & M Middle Passage Project1619 Initiative Intern
