People, Locations, Episodes

Ayecha, a Community for Non-White Jews

The Ayecha Resource Organization is celebrated on this date. They were a global resource group for Jews of Color. Ayecha supported, strengthened, and advocated for Jews of Color and multi-racial families in the U.S.

The African Cemetery (Key West, Florida) is Re-Established

*On this date in 2002, a Consecration Ceremony for the Key West African cemetery took place. This occasion marked another chapter of closure in the history of Africans in America.

Key West was never a slave trading port, but because of its unusual geography it was often affected by the Transatlantic Slave Trade. A remote outpost, poised along the maritime highway of the Gulf Stream current and very close to the plantations of Cuba, the small island saw a number of slave ships sail through, wreck in, or be forcibly brought to her waters.

The African Burial Ground (New York City) is Re-Established

On this date in 2003, an African Burial Ground in New York City was re-established and re-consecrated.

The African Burial Ground is a 6-acre cemetery that was used between the late 1600s and 1796, and originally contained between 10,000 and 20,000 burials. The discovery of the African Burial Ground occurred in June 1991. Earlier that month, construction workers began to dig the foundation for a new $300 million federal government building in lower Manhattan. It all stopped when they came upon the burial ground, where they found wooden coffins and human remains.

The First Day of Kwanzaa

December 26 is the first day of Kwanzaa or Umoja, meaning Unity.

Kwanzaa was founded by Dr. Maulana Kareng in 1966.
Umoja is the foundational principal of the Nguzo Saba (seven principles) for without it, all other principles suffer. Kwanzaa is a unique African American celebration with focus on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement. Kwanzaa is neither political nor religious and despite some misconceptions, is not a substitute for Christmas.
Unity is a cardinal virtue of classic and general African societies.

American Black History and Islam, a story

*This date celebrates the beginning of this years Ramadan. Because of this, the Registry looks briefly at Islam and African-America.

African American and Jewish American Relations in America, an article

*On this date we look at the history of Black and Jewish relations in America. Since the time of slavery, blacks and Jews have in a range of ways identified with the each others community experience.