CALL THEIR NAME: AFRICATOWN COMMUNITY TO HONOR ANCESTORS THROUGH HISTORIC LANTERN WALK
Africatown, AL- The First Annual recreation of The Africatown Lantern Walk will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2022, from 3:00-5:00 pm CST in Africatown, Alabama.
In the spirit of celebrating the strength and significance of Africatown, the Lantern Walk is for the community and is organized by the community of Africatown. It is being hosted by the Mobile County Training School Alumni Association, The Heritage House, Yorktown Church, Hopewell Church, and Union Baptist Church. The International Center for Transitional Justice and African American Redress Network are working alongside the community to bring the Lantern Walk to fruition.
Starting at the Mobile County Training School, and ending at the Africatown Cemetery, the Lantern Walk will uplift the stories of Africatown’s ancestors and fight against the erasure of Africatown by capturing the richness and resilience of its community members. This event will raise public awareness of Africatown’s rich history and open space to discuss ideas of repair put forth by Africatown residents.
“The epic journey from darkness to enlightenment was celebrated in a very special ceremony in my community called the Lantern Walk,” shared Anderson Flen, one of the lead organizers of this event.“By acknowledging and replicating this historical experience, we have the opportunity to re-engage, give back, and thank our ancestors for their continual guidance. We will come together and ‘Call Their Names.’ It will be a healing of the community from the inside out.”
All schools and churches in the Mobile community, particularly Historic Black Churches, are invited to join in this community-led celebration.
As a symbol of healing and renewing, trees will be planted on Friday, November 18 at select locations of the Lantern Walk. Community members are encouraged to bring their shovels and take part in this tree-planting ceremony.
This event is a collaboration between the Mobile County Training School Alumni Association, the Clean Healthy Educated, Safe, Sustainable (C.H.E.S.S) group, the Churches of Africatown, the African American Redress Network (AARN), the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), the Department of Landscape Architecture at Mississippi State University, the Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham-Southern College, Mobile County and the City of Mobile.
The event is free and open to the public. Please view the documents below to learn more.
For more information see: MCTS Lantern Walk – MCTS Alumni Association
Contact:
Anderson Flen (404) 219-7890
This epic journey from darkness to enlightenment was celebrated in a very special ceremony in my community called “The Africatown Lantern Walk.” By acknowledging and restoring this historical experience, we have the opportunity to reengage, give back and thank our ancestors for their continual guidance again. Therefore, WE CALL OUT THEIR NAMES.
WALK TIMES AFRICATOWN LATERN WALK PROGRAM
2:00 PM CST Community Elders talk and refreshments available at each church
3:00 PM CST Program Begins – MCTS Bell will ring – songs will be sung calling their names
3:05 PM CST Leaving MCTS Courtyard
3:35 PM CST Walking pass First Hopewell Baptist Church
3:50 PM CST Walking pass Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church
4:00 PM CST Walking pass Yorktown Baptist Church
4:20 PM CST Walking pass Union Baptist Church
4:40 PM CST At Old Plateau Cemetery
PARKING: Union Baptist Church, Yorktown Baptist Church, and Hopewell Baptist Church
TRANSPORTATION: Tour Bus and other transportation available for elders and others from start to finish
SUNDAY SERVICES: At each church with a special presentation
