On September 30 through Oct 2, 2005, James Stovall produced and directed the African Burial Ground Tribute honoring over 20,000 Africans buried in lower Manhattan during the late 1700's and into the 1800's. The site was discovered during the beginnings of a new structure in 1991; construction was halted and an excavation of the bones commenced rendering 419 bodies at this one site at 290 Broadway. During the first African Burial Ground Tribute in 2003, those 419 bodies were properly re-buried with an amazing ceremony representing the entire African Diaspora and a congregation of Native Americans. The site now gets international attention and a permanent memorial, designed by Rodney Leon, will be built this year and completed in 2006. The White house and the United States Congress is in the process and final stages of declaring the African Burial Ground site as a NATIONAL MONUMENT!. This is a great acoomplishment for everyone who has worked so tirelessly on this project. The Sponsors and Executive Producers are The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and an AMAZING ABG Project Team, The United States Genral Services Administration, and the National Park Service. I would like to thank all of the staff and memebers from Christ Community United Church who annually assist me with this worthy project that honors our history and ancestry. This is a great day!

A Note from James Stovall

Program Producer/Director

212.568.6700 ext. 21

Dive4God@aol.com