Celebrate African-American History Month at African Burial Ground National Monument

Date: February 1, 2016
Contact: John Harlan Warren, 917-829-0425

NEW YORK —African Burial Ground National Monument celebrates African-American History Month with five events in the month of February, a few of the 100 Events in New York Harbor which national parks in the area will conduct for the Centennial of the National Park Service in 2016.

On Wednesday, February 3, World War I reenactors will celebrate another centennial: the 100^th anniversary of the "Harlem Hell Fighters." Also known as the 369^th Infantry Regiment and the 15^th New York National Guard Regiment, this racially segregated unit earned its nickname from German soldiers, who recognized the toughness of the regiment. An interpretive discussion and display will be available from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.

On Saturday, February 6, David Mills will give a dramatic performance of the works of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes from 1 P.M. to 2:30 P.M.

On Wednesday, February 17, the poet Ngoma will give a spoken word performance with musical accompaniment from 1 P.M. to 2 P.M.

On Friday, February 26, a lecture and slide show will celebrate the history and legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers from 1 to 2 P.M. Before the National Park Service was founded in 1916, "Buffalo Soldiers" protected some national parks, including Yosemite.

On Saturday, February 27, poet and performer David Mills leads a poetry workshop inspired by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the "father of black history," beginning at 1 P.M.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, call 212-637-2019 or visit the park's website at www.nps.gov/afbg. Please note that only the Visitor Center is open;the outside Memorial is closed for the winter season and will reopen on March 1.

This year, the National Park Service celebrates its Centennial with the goal of connecting with and creating the next generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates. We encourage visitors to "Find Your Park" at African Burial Ground National Monument

About African Burial Ground National Memorial

In 1991, one of the most significant archaeological finds in U.S. history took place here in New York City."Negro Burial Ground", a cemetery used by enslaved and free Africans from the 1640s until 1790s, was rediscovered in 1991 when construction began on a federal office building in lower Manhattan. In 1993, the site was preserved as a National Historic Landmark;it gained full status as a unit of the National Park Service by Presidential Proclamation on February 27, 2006. The National Monument is part of an original 6.6-acre site containing the intact skeletal remains of approximately 15,000 women, men and children, making it the largest and oldest cemetery of American's of African descent excavated in North America.

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