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Educators gather to learn about first Africans arriving in 1619

Next month will mark 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived in Hampton at Point Comfort, present-day Fort Monroe.

HAMPTON, Va. — More than 40 Hampton educators will meet at Hampton University this week to learn about an important story in American history.

Next month will mark 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived in Hampton at Point Comfort, present-day Fort Monroe.

Their arrival on the British ship White Lion was witnessed and recorded by English Settler, John Rolfe. 

K-12 educators will be given daily presentations this week by subject matter experts. They also viewed the Emmy Award-winning 13News Now Documentary, "20 and Odd: Africans' Arrival in 1619."

The event is sponsored by the Hampton 2019 Commemorative Commission and Hampton City Schools to encourage teachers to include an often omitted story in their lesson plans. 

"Unfortunately, Point Comfort isn't really included in the SOLS and really anything about the culture of African people. Very little is included in the SOL with regards to contributions specifically that African people made to agricultural and other industries, ideas of philosophy, ideas of spirituality," says Commission Co-Chair Dr. Colita Nichols Fairfax.

This week's K-12 Summer Institute is one of several events leading up to next month's commemoration. Click here for more information and a list of events.  

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