African American Events

Join us June 7, 2008 for the second annual family-fun day highlighting the African American Imprint on America. African Imprint Day is an opportunity to bring family and friends out to explore the culture, history, music and strong legacies of the first Africans brought to America in 1619.

Its a cultural family fun day as you enjoy the the African-American market, music, fun and crafts on the mall and then visit the exhibits, galleries and interpretative area to learn more about the first Africans in 17th-century Virginia. Guided gallery tours and a special family gallery guide highlight the culture of the first known Africans in Virginia, from the kingdom of Ndongo in Angola, and the experience of Africans in 17th-century Virginia. A dramatic gallery multimedia presentation, "From Africa to Virginia," chronicles African encounters with Europeans, the impact on African culture and development of the transatlantic slave trade. Tours of the outdoor Riverfront Discovery Area will focus on technology used by Africans in Angola and the skills in boatbuilding, fishing and metalworking they brought to 17th-century Virginia.

In partnership with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, the Virginia African American Forum brings this wonderful day to you. For food and craft vendor information please email:

AfricanImprintDay2@jamestown2007.org or click here for an application.

Recap of 2007 Events



Preview Gala

When: Oct. 14, 2006
Where: Jamestown Settlement

More than 250 people attended an exclusive preview showcasing African elements of the new expanded galleries at Jamestown Settlement, hosted by TheVirginia African American Forum (VAAF), a Virginia-based grassroots organization.

Reception highlights included Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander as the keynote speaker, music by Jae Sinnett's Jazz Trio and period music by the Colonial Williamsburg Performers. Distinguished guests included representatives from the Angolan embassy, Liberia, and England as well as U.S. Representative Robert C. "Bobby" Scott and Virginia Secretary of Administration Viola Baskerville. Proceeds from the gala will help purchase African artifacts for the Museum's collection and scholarships for students in African-American or museum studies.

PBS television host Tavis Smiley held his annual State of the Black Union in Virginia this year. The event drew 36 of America's top thinkers including New Millenium Studio founders Tim Reid and Daphne Maxwell Reid, Richmond Mayor Doug Wilder, Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson as participants, as well as 10,000 attendees and a television audience of millions. The event aired live on C-Span and was rebroadcast on TV One.

This year's address delved into the African-American imprint on America during the past 400 years and outlined a plan for action during the next 400.

The State of the Black Union highlighted the importance of African culture in the Jamestown story and the growth of our nation.

Jamestown - 400 years in Retrospect: A Cross-Cultural Look at the First Settlement
When: Friday, February 9, 2007
Where: The College of William and Mary, Phi Beta Kappa Theater

Encore presentation of the State of the Black Union 2007

Date: Wednesday, August 29th 2007 - Thursday, August 30th 2007

STATE OF THE BLACK UNION 2007: presented by Wells Fargo
Jamestown — America’s 400th Anniversary:
The African American Imprint on America
Jamestown 2007 presenting sponsor Norfolk Southern

State of the Black Union Panelists

8:00 a.m. (EST) Rep. Keith Ellison Eddie Glaude Judge Glenda Hatchett Cathy Hughes Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr. Daphne Maxwell Reid Tim Reid Stephanie Robinson Malika Saada Saar Rev. Al Sharpton L. Douglas Wilder Moderator Michel Martin

1:00 p.m. (EST) Lerone Bennett, Jr. Angela Glover Blackwell Chuck D Marian Wright Edelman Bruce Gordon Julia Hare Wade Henderson Mae Jemison Charles Ogletree Sonia Sanchez Rep. Bobby Scott Omar Wasow Cornel West Moderator Tavis Smiley

Virginia Black Expo
A Cultural and Commerce Exposition

When: August 23-25, 2007
Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, Virginia

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Thursday, August, 23, 2007 Hampton Roads Committee of 200 + Men and Virginia Black Expo Golf Tournament at The Hampton Golf Course located at 320 Butler Farm Road in Hampton, VA. (Call Bruce Williams at (757) 456-0222 or email abwamarketing@yahoo.com for additional information.) Saturday, August 25, 2007 (Conv Ctr. lower level) 9:00 am - Registration 10:00 am - Seminar starts 11:00 am - Black Expo doors open 11:00 am - Health Fair opens 11:00 am - Cultural Pavilion opens 11:15 am - Local entertainment stage opens (located in Ballroom A) 2 – 3:00 pm Lou Gossett, Jr. Keynote speech 2 – 4:00 pm LL Cool J 3 – 4:00 pm Lou Gossett, Jr. book signing 5 – 6:30 pm Yolanda Adams African American Family Reunion (Conv Ctr. upper level) 9 -5:00pm Genealogy Workshop Computer Access 9 -4:00pm Kidz Zone 9 -5:00pm Gospel Extravaganza 11 -1:00pm Black Expo Workshops 11 am & 2 pm African American Heritage Tour 4:00pm G.P. Phenix High School Legacy Reception 5 pm-11:00pm Ft. Monroe Summer Concert SEMINARS 10:00 am-11:00 am Resources Available to Start Your Own Business Presented by Debra Farley with the SBDC — Room 106 (sponsored by State Farm Insurance Company) 10:30 am – 11:30 am "Implementing Affordable HealthCare Solutions" — Room 101 (sponsored by Optima Health) 11:00 am -12 noon Becoming a State Farm Agent Presented by Carey Raines — Room 106 (sponsored by State Farm Insurance Company) 12 noon - 1:00 pm The Basics of Doing Business Globally -Panel Discussion — Room 107 (sponsored by Wachovia) 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Bovanti Cosmetics — Room 106 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Straight talk with Black owned companies from London (UK) — Room 107 (sponsored by Wachovia) 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Young Entrepreneurs - "Making A Difference" — Room 101

Academy Award Winning Actor Lou Gossett, Jr Grammy Award Winning Gospel Artist Yolanda Adams Multi-Award Winning Recording Artist Actor and Author LL Cool J

African Imprint Day at Jamestown Settlement


In partnership with Jamestown 2007 and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, the Virginia African American Forum held a family-fun day highlighting the African American Imprint on America.

African Imprint Day was an opportunity to bring family and friends to Jamestown Settlement, to explore the new galleries and the three original cultures, Virginia Indian, European and Africans who first coverged there in the 17th century.

Highlights of the event included a presentation of $1,000 scholarship checks to each of Virginia's Historically Black Colleges and Universities, African lore and storytelling by Dylan Pritchett and Shelia Arnold, a workshop on African American genealogy, children art activities, dance by Suwabi African Ballet and music by the Virginia Mass Choir, Gator Allmond and the Spice of Life Band, Bit and Pieces Band and the Legacy of Weyanoke.

Later in the evening Dr. Joseph C. Miller, University of Virginia history professor and African Studies Association president, presented a lecture entitled “Journeys Through Time: African and African American Lives in Virginia.





Historically Black Colleges and Universities -African American Imprint on America

Complementing the national theme, African American Imprint on America, Virginia’s six historically black colleges and universities will each hosted symposia related to the “imprint” theme. Symposia themes included religion, politics, education, history, culture, music and arts. The symposia and papers from the Political Imprint, " Voices from within the Veil" held at Norfolk State University will be incorporated into the International Democracy Conference to be held in September 2007.

Religious Imprint - Virginia Union University Footprints of Faith: Tears, Testimony, and Triumph - November 13-16, 2006
Business Imprint - Metropolitan Business League February 9-10, 2007
Political Imprint - Norfolk State University America's 400th Anniversary: Voices From Within the Veil - February 22-23, 2007 Download Voices From Within the Veil Brochure
Art and Humanities Imprint - Hampton University Honoring Heritage: African American and American Indian Art - February 16 - July 28, 2007
Education Imprint - Saint Paul College Education - March 7-11, 2007

International Imprint - Virginia University of Lynchburg Congo/African-American Connection - October 25-27, 2007