Commemorating Over 400 Years of African American Heritage

401 years ago, in 1619, the first enslaved Africans arrived in English-occupied North America, at Virginia’s Point Comfort.

On Tuesday, August 25th, at 2 PM EST, we will be ringing FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM’S ship bell for 4 minutes. We do so to honor over 400 years of African American experience; experience of not just trauma, but resilience, beauty, and strength.

We invite you to join us in solidarity here (as we livestream our bell ringing), or by grabbing your own bell, to honor African American heritage.