As Our Time Press goes into production, we have learned that plans are underway for the 2005 Ancestral Heritage Weekend commemorative at the African Burial Ground to occur Friday, Sept. 30, beginning at 10:00 A.M. through Sunday, Oct. 2 at Duane & Els Streets in lower Manhattan. This year, the Heritage Weekend, hosted by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, will offer AMeditations on Compassion and Healing@ in acknowledgement of current national and foreign events impacting the community, the nation and the world.
Highlights include a 1000-plus child=s assembly (encircling the African Burial Ground landmark area) and Ring Shout; consecration and affirmation ceremonies; ecumenical prayers; vigils; and dance, spoken word, jazz and public performances at the African Burial Ground at Duane & Elk Streets. Among the artists who will appear are Wyclef Jean, Taye Diggs, the cast of ADrumstruck,@ violinist Tadia Lynch (featured as this issue=s cover story), Phylicia Rashad, jazz drummer Louis Hayes and the Cannonball Adderly Legacy Band, and Brooklyn=s own Musart Steel Drum Band. For event details, updates and timetable, visit www.africanburialground.com, or check your area community newspaper listings.