UNESCO International Day

UNESCO International Day for the Remembrance

of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

August 23rd | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

As a UNESCO Slave Route Site of Remembrance, Historic Sotterley invites the public to this important day by honoring the memories of those that perished and survived the trans-Atlantic slave trade. We remember the abolition of the trade and celebrate the contributions of survivors whose strength built nations. 2019 also commemorates 400 years since the arrival of captured Africans to Jamestown, VA. This program is made possible in part by a generous grant from Maryland Humanities.

Welcome

Nancy Easterling

Executive Director, Historic Sotterley

Convocation

Rev. Roderick W. McClanahan

First Missionary Baptist Church

Lexington Park, MD

 Purpose of the Day and Testimony

Sandra Coles-Belle,

Sotterley descendant and Program Director, Cultural Diversity

and Outreach for the Archdiocese of Washington

Sotterley’s Bell  Rings 

29 times to remember persons who perished

on the middle passage to Sotterley in 1720

Music  Selection

First Missionary Baptist, Voices of Praise

Sotterley’s Story

Gwen Bankins, Historic Sotterley Trustee

and Sotterley descendant

Historic Sotterley’s Partner Organizations:

Marilyn Hatza, Grants and Strategic Partnerships,

Maryland Humanities

Michael Brown, President,

Unified Committee for Afro American Contributions

William Hall, President,

NAACP St. Mary’s County

Rev. Dr. Tamara England Wilson, Chair

Maryland Commission for African American History and Culture

Ann Cobb, Executive Board Member,

Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project

Music Selection

First Missionary Baptist, Voices of Praise

Descendants’  Project, Honoring Ancestors

Jeanne Pirtle

Director of Educational Programming and Partnerships,

Historic Sotterley

Giving Voice

Participants Name Their Ancestor

Statement from Historic Sotterley

Bert Johnston, President, Historic Sotterley Board of Trustees

Reading of Proclamations and Conclusion

Nancy Easterling

Benediction

Charlie Wharton, Minister

St. Mary’s County Church of Christ