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Source: Philadelphia Independent Media Center Date: July 4, 2010 Byline: rmship It’s Not Abe Lincoln’s 1862 Emancipation Proclamation — It’s Our 2010 Emancipation Proclamation!Local coalition holds 4th July ceremony. During that ceremony, ATAC presented a crowd pleasing dramatic public reading of the powerful 1852 speech by Frederick Douglass entitled "The Meaning Of The Fourth Of July For The Negro." This event was attended by elders to infants. The elders were asked permission to proceed after every speaker. Libation was given to respect the ancestors and give thanks. This event is taken very seriously as if you are pouring libation prior to a public event, you ask for BLESSINGS for that event or those in attendance. And what a event it was, the backdrop being the American Independence Hall located in the 500 block of Chestnut Street. A few feet from the Liberty Bell pavilion. Also the event was held closer to 5th and Market near the location of the Presidents House. The very house that was used by Martha and George Washington, the irony is that the first president fought a 6 year war and a signer of the american constitution, stood and fought to become free from the British crown, held enslaved Africans in the very home he occupied. Defying the Pennsylvania state law that if a master transported enslaved Africans into the state and rotated out as the 6th month law stated at the time, when it was abolished president Washington continued to transport and take them home to Virginia and bring them back to PA. This and other events were highlighted in July 4th event.  Michael Coard Esq, founding member of ATAC  Brother giving Libation to begin the program, here he uses bottle of water  The crowd was peppered with people holding signs  Mumia supports were out in force  Tea Party event: here a war veteran speaks You will find a photo where a young man in his twenties, administered Libation to the ancestors and elders in attendance at todays emancipation proclamation for the nine Africans that were not able to celebrate true freedom on the 4th of July as they and thousands more we still in servitude. Not far from the liberty bell and to the southwest of Independence hall (6th Walnut now called Washington square)is the old Congo square, where owners brought their human property to the square under watchful eyes of overseers. There is where individuals sang, chanted, pasted stories and ask questions about the where abouts of missing family members that were sold away from them. The Africans held spiritual ceremonies called libation. On the matter of what to offer the Ancestor or Deities, we have the choice of Water, Wine and "Hard" Liquor. The choice of liquid depends on the nature of the libation and prayer and what your aim is in invoking (awakening) the Ancestors. There is different forms of liquids used. As has been my own experience:
This is an important matter as many of us do not realize that when you pour libation you are AWAKENING the Ancestors. The libation is only the 1st part of the process. After awakening the Ancestors, we have to actually DO something, DISCUSSS something or WORK a ritual. Libation is not complete without at bare minimum THANKING the Ancestors or REQUESTING something like support, stability, clarity, spiritual cleansing or protection etc. The sponsoring group is called ATAC (Avenging the Ancestors Coalition) a variety of groups working together for African American education about the generations that walked these very grounds and paved the way for us. Position Paper of Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (ATAC)http://avengingtheancestors.com/info/index.htm Avenging The Ancestors Coalition (ATAC) is a broad-based organization of African American historians, attorneys, elected officials, religious leaders, media personalities, community activists, and registered voters. ATAC was founded in 2002 to compel the National Park Service (NPS) and Independence National Historical Park (INHP) to finally agree to the creation of a prominent Slavery Memorial to conspicuously permeate the President’s House project. The purpose of this Slavery Memorial is to honor primarily the nine African descendants enslaved by President George Washington at the President’s House, which is also known as America’s first “White House” and which was located at the current site of the new Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia at Sixth and Market Streets. Those nine were among the 316 Black men, women, and children enslaved by Washington at his Mt. Vernon, Virginia plantation. Their handout read,"It's Our 2010 Emancipation Proclamation." About 350 gathered for the event, just as the Tea Party held a event across the street in the mall, not far from this event. Each group never mentioned the other, as the Nation Park Service rangers were present, U.S. Marshall's were seen patrolling both events. (a reprint from their website explains the gathering) It’s Not Abe Lincoln’s 1862 Emancipation Proclamation — It’s Our 2010 Emancipation Proclamation! Sunday, July 4, 2010, 2:15 PM, at 6th & Market in Philadelphia Brothers and Sisters, President George Washington enslaved 316 of our ancestors in Virginia and transported nine of them to Philadelphia at America's first "White House," which was at the site of the new Liberty Bell Center at Sixth and Market. Unfortunately, not one of those nine (or any of the others) was ever freed by President Washington during his lifetime. Therefore, Avenging The Ancestors Coalition (ATAC) will hold a formal "Emancipation Proclamation 2010" ceremony on July 4th at 2:15 p.m. at Sixth and Market to free our enslaved ancestors. In addition, during that ceremony, ATAC will present a dramatic public reading of the powerful 1852 speech by Frederick Douglass entitled "The Meaning Of The Fourth Of July For The Negro." http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/more/douglass.htm There were presentations from Pam Africa shared updates about the course of jailed activist Mumia Abul Jamar. |