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When did we become Americans? 1619: The Making of America, a conference to be held September 21-22 at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA, marks an effort to lay the groundwork for national dialogues and reinterpretation of major issues that began in 1619. The conference is the first in a series of colloquia, round-table discussions, and publications commemorating 1619 as the benchmark for the development and evolution of American society.
Three events marked a significant transformation for the history of the nation 12 years after the founding of Jamestown: The first official arrival of Africans in colonial America; the founding of America’s first legislative body, the House of Burgesses; and the establishment of a viable economy based on tobacco.
Discussions will focus on African diaspora backgrounds, creolization, identity, religious syncretism, culinary traditions, and cultural interactions. Participants will include American Indians and scholars from universities such as Boston University, Johns Hopkins, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Norfolk State and William and Mary. The Middle Passage Project libation ceremony presented by Native Americans will highlight the event.
For registration and additional information, visit http://www.nsu.edu/1619
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