4th Annual Benjamin Drummond Emancipation Day Celebration

Event Details

End: April 15, 2018
Contact: BenjaminDrummond@hillcenterdc.org
More Info: http://www.hillcenterdc.org/partner/benjamin-drummond-emancipation-day-celebration/

Hill Center Commemorates First Freed Slaves with 4th Annual Benjamin Drummond Emancipation Day Celebration, April 12-15

 

Washington, D.C.  – Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital will honor America’s first liberated slaves with free celebratory and scholarly programs that bring together a diverse group of prominent experts, artists, and public figures April 12, 13, 14, and 15, 2018.

 

Named for the Old Naval Hospital’s first patient, a young African American seaman taken prisoner by Confederated ships, Benjamin Drummond Emancipation Day Celebration marks 156 years since President Abraham Lincoln signed The District of Columbia Emancipation Act, which freed D.C.’s 3,000+ slaves, nearly nine months before the Emancipation Proclamation.

 

“I appreciate the work of Hill Center to illuminate and celebrate Washington, D.C.’s historic role in the abolishment of slavery,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser.  “Each year, we use this historic moment to renew our push for full democracy and statehood for the residents of the District of Columbia. We will not stop until we achieve full statehood.”

 

The Celebration’s programs include a walking tour of the Bloomingdale neighborhood which played a pivotal role in ending racial covenants on real estate. Distinguished scholars from across the country will present discussions on African American women and their history of sexual violence and trauma; the 14th Amendment and the meaning of citizenship; and a look back at 1968 Washington, DC, and its narrative of turbulence, tragedy and ultimate transformation. The celebration will conclude with a free concert by Grammy-nominated R&B singer-songwriter, Carolyn Malachi at Capitol Hill’s historic Christ Church. The Benjamin Drummond Emancipation Day Celebration is sponsored by the Executive Office of the Mayor, American Historical Association, and Association for the Study of African American Life and History. For more information and to reserve FREE tickets to most events, visit www.hillcenterdc.org/partner/benjamin-drummond-emancipation-day-celebration/

 

Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital offers quality programming in a restored Civil War-era medical facility commissioned by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864. It is a vibrant home for culture, education and city life and serves a hub for community and personal enrichment.