The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial has been on the Annapolis Town Dock for 25 years. It includes a sculpture of creator Alex Haley studying to a few youngsters from other backgrounds. This memorial honors Haley’s ancestor, Kunta Kinte, who used to be delivered to The united states as a slave in 1767. Chris Haley, Alex Haley’s nephew, defined that the memorial presentations the virtue of sharing people tales from all cultures. The memorial used to be created via public efforts led by means of Leonard A. Blackshear and others. A distinct tournament can be hung on December 9, 2024, to honour the memorial’s yearly. The development will come with audio system, awards, and a prospect for nation to mirror on their very own people histories. Chris Haley hopes everybody will percentage their tales, reminding us that everybody has a generation utility telling. The development is sovereign and visible to the family.
Twenty-five years have handed since the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial used to be put in on the Annapolis Town Dock the place passersby can see memorialized sculptures of creator Alex Haley studying to a few attentive youngsters with a conserve in his lap. Related this branch, Haley’s ancestor, Kunta Kunte used to be delivered to the shores of Annapolis enroute the Lord Ligonier from the Gambia in 1767 and bought into slavery.
Picture credit score: Courtesy of the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Bedrock, Inc.
“It (the memorial) also symbolizes the importance of sharing your family’s story regardless of your ethnicity. That is why the children were created to represent different cultures: African American, European, and Asian,” mentioned Chris Haley, nephew of Alex Haley.
He added, “The Compass Rose which sits embedded in the front entrance of the Market House is a spot where from its center you can look out toward the geographical direction of the continent of your ancestors. This was created to indicate clearly that while “Roots’” core tale is of 1 people’s extreme evolution from the horrors of slavery; its broader theme is inclusive of all nation and their immigrant forebears.”
Chris works because the Director of Analysis, Schooling and Outreach, and the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland, Maryland Circumstance Archives, and in addition serves as a member of the advisory board of the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Bedrock, Inc.
Patsy Baker Blackshear, Ph.D., president of Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Bedrock, Inc. added that the Memorial used to be created via a shared accountability of many throughout the public who labored in combination to procure approvals, carry budget, build the Memorial design, and establish and choose the artisans, to put together the Memorial a real truth.
“This community endeavor was led by [my late husband] Leonard A. Blackshear and completed in stages, over a decade-long period,” mentioned Dr. Baker Blackshear.
She recalled that the attendees on the December 9, 1999, willpower and unveiling of the Memorial incorporated Leonard A. Blackshear; Grasp of Ceremonies, Carl Snowden; actor John Amos who equipped the keynote cope with; Edward Dwight, the Memorial’s sculptor; Anne Arundel County Government, Janet Owens; Governor Parris Glendening; and alternative officers and folks.
She additional defined that Leonard first led the try to build the Kunta Kinte Competition. Nearest Alex Haley’s dying, he led the try to build the Kunte Kinte-Alex Haley Bedrock. It become the manage and sponsoring group for the Memorial’s initiation.
“The Memorial was inspired by the work of Alex Haley in searching for his family heritage, as represented in the book ‘Roots,’” Dr. Baker Blackshear additionally said.
Future has handed, however the worth of the Memorial has now not light. Dr. Baker Blackshear, Chris Haley, and Eric Elston, PhD. created the three-person 25th Past Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial Per annum Committee to devise a commemorative tournament. The birthday party, hosted by means of the Kunte Kinte-Alex Haley Bedrock on the Annapolis Town Dock, situated at 1 Dock Side road on December 9, 2024, at 1 p.m., will deal a prospect to mirror at the worth of historical past that are supposed to by no means be forgotten.
This system at Annapolis Town Dock will come with David Fakunle, Chair, Maryland Lynching Fact and Reconciliation Fee; Michael Twitty, an award-winning culinary historian; Dr. Omékongo Dibinga, creator of “Lies About Black People”; Girl Brion, Maryland’s Poet Laureate; Invoice Haley, grandson of Alex Haley; and Chris Haley. Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley and Anne Arundel County Government Steuart Pittman may also cope with attendees, along with Dr. Baker Blackshear. Native activist, Carl Snowden, will provide because the grasp of ceremonies for the development, simply as he did in 1999 throughout the willpower and unveiling of the Memorial. A delegation of officers, together with the Minister of Tourism & Tradition, Abdoulie Jobe, and the Director Basic of the Nationwide Middle for Arts & Tradition, Hassoum Ceesaay are anticipated to wait the birthday party.
Awards can be introduced to 6 integral participants to the preliminary Memorial try, and Watermark, LLC. The corporate will obtain the award for its steady aid to the African American heritage efforts. On the other hand, registration is now closed for the afternoon Banneker Douglass Tubman Museum reception because of dimension obstacles.
Chris desires tournament attendees to really feel pressured to speak to their people participants about their very own tales.
“Not everybody had a Kunta Kinte or an Alex Haley, but everyone had someone who preceded them despite whatever human struggles they experienced and they, too, had stories to tell.”
Seek advice from https://kintehaley.org/conferences/25-year-anniversary-celebration to be told extra in regards to the drawing close birthday party this is sovereign and visible to the family.
