Author: ASALH South Florida

Purchase tickets here: http://www.paypal.me/ASALHSoFlo/37

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 21, 2017

Contacts:  Dr. Wallis Hamm Tinnie: 305-772-7714; or Dinizulu Gene Tinnie: 305-904-7620

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The 180^th anniversary of two 1838 battles which changed the history of Palm Beach County, Florida, and the Nation, will be commemorated with the Annual Seminole Maroon Spiritual Remembrance ceremony at historic Loxahatchee Battlefield Park, in Jupiter, Florida, on Monday, January 15 (the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday), from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Battlefield is adjacent to Riverbend Park, 9060 West Indiantown Road (one mile west of Florida’s Turnpike and I-95).

The popular Annual Remembrance honors the memory of the fallen on both sides, with multicultural prayers and interactive rituals, historical presentations and displays, “Village Talk” for open community participation, and concludes with Battlefield tours conducted by Loxahatchee Battlefield Preservationists.

A Pivotal Moment in History

The occasion commemorates the two encounters 180 years ago when approximately 200 Native and African American Seminoles (largely survivors of the Christmas Day, 1837 Battle of Okeechobee farther north) confronted first a U.S. Naval expeditionary force, which they ambushed and defeated on January 15, in “Powell’s Battle”; and secondly a much larger force of 1,500 U.S. troops and Tennessee Volunteers, which succeeded in dispersing but not defeating the surviving Seminoles on January 24, in “Jesup’s Battle.”

(Survivors would later be lured to Fort Jupiter under a white flag of truce, where they were captured and deported on the Trail of Tears to present-day Oklahoma, where their descendants still reside, with branches in Texas and Mexico, while some being turned over to “slave catchers” as pretended “recaptured runaways” and taken northward into the Southern states to be sold.)

Months later, remaining survivors in Florida would be further dispersed, and impoverished, following the final significant battle of the Second Seminole War, near present-day Fort Lauderdale, but it was the Battles of the Loxahatchee that finally broke effective Seminole defense in Florida against settler encroachment in what had been “Freedom Land” for self-liberating Native and African Americans.

A Landmark Year

In a break with past years’ observances, the 2018 Remembrance is being held on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday itself, which marks a landmark in time in its own right, not only as the actual date of Powell’s Battle, but also as Dr. King’s actual birth date, being observed in the 50^th anniversary year of his assassination — and of the launch of the Poor People’s Campaign, to which he dedicated his final years (but did not live to see) — in 1968, the same year that Sen. Robert F. Kennedy would be assassinated 62 days after Dr. King.

In the established spirit of this occasion of bringing much of forgotten American history and traditional wisdom to light, it will also serve as a start of a year-long series of special programs, activities, and commemorations, including the Bicentennial of legendary Abolitionist, orator, presidential advisor, and human-rights activist Frederick Douglass, and observances of International Days of Remembrance.

In addition to this national and global significance, 2018 is an important local landmark in modern Palm Beach County history as the 20^th anniversary of the “160-Year Family Reunion” homecoming, organized by the late Isa Hamm Bryant in 1998, of an impressive delegation of Seminole Maroon descendants from Oklahoma, including the elected Chairwomen of the two historic “Freedmen’s Bands” of the Great Seminole Nation in that state, to their Ancestral Homeland of Florida, coinciding with the unfolding discovery of the true location of the Loxahatchee Battlefield, all of which brought about a groundbreaking upsurge of awareness of, and support for, this history in the County.

All Are Welcome

As throughout the more than two decades since the first annual Remembrance, this occasion welcomes all to a spiritual experience which combines historical information and education with prayerful meditations, particularly on Dr. King’s profound teachings on nonviolence as we honor the victims of warfare at a sacred site, consecrated by every life that was touched by the two battles fought there.

Admission is open and free to the public.  For further information, visit the web site at www,fbhrpinc.org, or call 305-772-7714– or 305-904-7620.

Looking for an opportunity to celebrate Kwanzaa in South Florida this year? There are a number of celebrations taking place throughout Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties. Below is a list of a few of them. Want to be added to the list? Email us at asalhsouthflorida@gmail.com.

Wednesday, December 20th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration,  Old Dillard Museum, 1009 NW 4th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311.

Old Dillard Museum invites you and the entire family out for it’s annual Pre – Kwanzaa Celebration featuring Darius Daughtry and the Art Prevails Project Troupe. Free Admission!!

Saturday, December 23rd, 4:00pm – 8:00pm

Kwanzaa Celebration, Little Haiti Cultural Complex, 212 NE 59th Terrace, Miami, Florida 33137

Honoring Our Elders &Paying Homage to our Ancestors. Come be a part of our #Free Kwanzaa Celebration Event. This event is open to the public. Key Note Speaker: Ms. Emily Diane Gunter, URGENT, Inc. Activities will include: Words from our Keynote Speaker, Presentation of the #Unity table and 7 #Principles of Kwanzaa, and Cultural Artistic Expression. We ask the community to bring fruits, vegetables, nuts and other wholesome items as an offering to our unity table. For More Info: Call 305-978-3866 OR visit www.delouafrica.org.

December 26th through January 1st, 6pm (Daily)

Lighting of the Candles/ A Kwanzaa Celebration

Cultural Expression, 401 S. 21st Avenue/Jackson, Hollywood, Florida 33020

Celebrating Kwanzaa created by Maulana Karenga . Coming Together in Umoja {unity} with Nguzo Saba {the 7 principles of Kwanzaa. A Festive week-long schedule of events to enjoy and embrace. Networking, vendors, food, dancing, workshops, and the Children’s village with arts/crafts, games, and griot story time.

Friday, December 29th, 4:30pm – 8:00pm

Mary Williams Woodard Legacy Kwanzaa Celebration

African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, 6161 NW 22nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33142

This year, we are excited to have Javonté Anyabwelé and his family join us. They embody the Principles of Kwanzaa and have garnered a social media following as the deliberate in supporting Black-owned businesses and teaching Black culture. We will also be treated to the talents of musician, dancer and artist, Prince Emmanuel Abiodun Aderele and the OsunDara Dance Theater, Grammy-nominated spoken word artist Rebecca “Butterfly” Vaughns and the award-winning Next Generation Dance Academy.

Nickelodeon HALO Awards winner, culture influencer, philanthropist, speaker and mogul-in-the-making, Zoe Terry returns with her Zoe’s Great Doll Give-Away. Zoe’s Dolls collects and distributes little brown dolls for little brown girls.

Our unsung hero community salute goes to Valencia Gunder, James Mungin II BKA “Munch” and Konscious Kontractors for their incredible demonstration of the Principles of Kwanzaa in our community, especially during and after Hurricane Irma when many were without food and were faced with debris and damaged homes.

Hosted by the Miami-Dade Chapter of the FAMU National Alumni Association, the Dr. Arthur & Mary Woodard Foundation for Education and Culture and Osun’s Village African Caribbean Arts Corridor.

The event is FREE but we do ask that you register at KwanzaaMiami28.eventbrite.com. Kwanzaa is a non-religious, non-political, family-friendly holiday. Enjoy the Soul Food Feast, music, dancing and celebrating with friends.

Donations of books and new, unwrapped educational toys are greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, email Vanessa Byers at vanessawbyers@gmail.com or call (305) 343-9088. Thank you. HARAMBEE!

Friday, December 29th, 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Kwanzaa Celebration by Simunye 

Jim Ward Community Center, 301 NW 46th Avenue, Plantation, Florida 33317

Simunye is a non-profit organization founded by the late Dr. Morris Johnson, Professor of African and African American History at various institutions in Miami. In Kiswahili Simunye means “We are One’. Dr. Tameka Bradley Hobbs is the keynote speaker.

Saturday, December 30th, 2:30pm – 6:00pm

Kwanzaa Celebration

Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, 170 NW 5th Avenue, Delray Beach, FL 33444

Celebrate the year end at the annual Kwanzaa Celebration. Kwanzaa honors the values of ancient African cultures and is inspiring to people who are working for progress. Be part of the reaffirmation of the individual, community, culture, family and environment. This event is held in partnership with the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the Sankofa Study Group.

Sunday, December 31st, 11:00 a.m.

Kwanzaa Service

Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Lauderdale, 3970 NW 21st Avenue, Oakland Park, Florida 33309

Guest speaker Dr. Tameka Bradley Hobbs is a lecturer at Florida Memorial University and is a facilitator and curriculum developer for the South Florida People of Colore and their Unity360 Community Race Dialogue Series.