Sings. Test test test. This is a captioning test. Test test test test test. Test test test. This is a captioning test. Test test test test test. Good morning, everyone. I want to thank the great people of the state of virginia for organizing a series of events commemorating the 400 Year Anniversary of the arrival of enslaved africans. I want to thank all of the community and elected leaders heres for your invitation to participate on behalf of the 55 members strong Congressional Black Caucus. This is the largest number of africanamericans ever elected to congress and in congress, cbc members hold major positions of leadership and have accomplished significant change through legislative victories. One of the most significant legislative victories of the year was accomplished by your own representative. Representative bobby scott. Who, by the way, i know you are aware is the chair of one of the most important committees in congress. The committee governing the nations education system. He led and is leading the effort to raise the Nations National minimum wage. Let me acknowledge another member of the congress am black caucus, who was in the audience with us today. Representative lacy clay from the great state of missouri. So today we commemorate the anniversary of the arrival here of africans, but earlier this month, a delegation of members of the Congressional Black Caucus led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to ghana, west africa to pay homage to our ancestors and to visit where they were held captive before they began that horrorfilled journey. Before they were captured, they lived in villages with sophisticated levels of organization. Many were skilled craftsmans, formers, healers and leaders. They were first taken from villages and forced to walk hundreds of miles to dungeons. Our delegation visited these dungeons that looked look old european forts in the world. The two dungeons we visited are alena and cape coast. Ironically, theyre in a beautiful part of the country right on the beach. It was a solemn and Emotional Experience to enter the dungeon, to close our eyes and imagine what our ancestors experienced. An added challenge we all faced was the mystery of knowing that our ancestors were held captive there but that we had no knowledge of who they were. Captured africans were stripped of their language, ethnic identities, tribal and family ties. We saw the areas of the dungeons that were large enough to hold about 50 to 100 people but where hundreds were held, rooms without sunlight forced to lay in their own excrement, no access to water to bathe. Only given enough food and water to keep them alive, deliberately kept in a weakened state so they could not organize or resist. Those that did attempt to resist were mutilated and left in separate rooms and slowly starved to death. Females were routinely made to stand in line while their captors would choose one of them. She was then washed and led up to the staircase to a bedroom, where she was raped and then returned back. The men, women and children were held in the dungeons for months, awaiting the time they would be forced on the boats to begin a journey that lasted for months. We have all seen the drawings of hundreds of people stuffed on to ships and heard the stories of what happened during their journey, when individuals became too sick or died or women gave birth, they were then thrown overboard to the ships, the sharks, who followed along. The ones that survived here, only to live out the rest of their lives as property in captivity. It is difficult to believe that this level of brutality lasted for hundreds of years and affected millions of africans. But when we stood in the dungeons filled with sadness, our heads lowered, reliving or trying to imagine what they went through, at the very same time, we lifted our heads and our chests were filled with pride and amazement at the strength and resilience of our ancestors. And here we are today on what can be described as Hallowed Ground in our nations history. But i would guess that most of the nation doesnt even know the story of the Hallowed Ground we stand on today. That we would arrive here first and generations later would escape enslavement and seek protection right here. That the nations first africanamerican president would make his first designation for a National Monument from enslaved ancestors to mayor tuck and vice mayor grace, that inspite of 250 years of enslavement, there w would be 57 africanamericans in congress representing all of america. I only wish the entire nation could witness what you are doing here today. The history of fort monroe, how you have honestly acknowledged all of our nations history, not just the parts that make us feel good. But the difficult parts as well. And i cant tell you what it feels like for me to sit here. This is my first time here. But the emotion that i feel in listening to the speakers tell the truth. Tell the truth. The sad thing about our nation and why we continue to have the issues we do is because we have denied part of our history and i believe that if the entire nation could experience, could learn and understand our true and full history, we might not be witnessing the resurrection of hate. Thank you so much for the honor of speaking to you today. Now, please welcome, the honorable robert c. Scott, United States house of representatives for the third Congressional District of virgini virginia. Good morning. Im honored to join all of you here at freedom fortress on this historic and solemn day. I want to thank everyone here who made this commemoration possible and traveled here today, especially my distinguished colleague from california karen bass. It is. You cant image were the ones that came here 400 years ago could not imagine a representative representing a caucus of 55 members speaking at the recognition of this day so i want to give karen bass another round of applause for being with us today. Also i want to welcome the commissioners on the 400 years of africanAmerican History commission. Senator kaine was generous at giving everybody credit but himself, of course, it was his leadership that gave this commission. Give senator kaine another round of applause. Slavery first arrived on our shores right here 400 years ago, the forced labor of enslaved africans and their accident descendants and thats a part of our complicated history with which we continue to wrestle. Over the past 400 years, descendants and others who followed the first 20 and odd africans made contribution to all aspects of American History. As we continue to work in addressing inequality and education, incarceration and criminal justice system, inequality and attacks on Voting Rights. We also pause to celebrate the incredible resiliency of those africans and their descendants. It is in that spirit i have been asked to discuss one individual whose fight have much to teach us today. Now, when im introduced to public gatherings, it is often mentioned i am the first africanamerican to represent virginia and the u. S. House of representatives since reconstruction. And only the second in the history of the commonwealth. The first was John Mercer Langston who after successfully contesting his election in 1988 was finally seated as a representative in 1890. 103 years ago before i began my first term in congress. My service in congress and that of so many others would not have been possible if it would not have been those who had fought to may have been the way. The first black senators and representatives elected Mike Langston after the civil war during reconstruction. As well as those who put their lives on the line to advance several rights and Voting Rights for africanamericans. Even before coming virginias first black congressman, John Mercer Langston had already left a mark on our commonwealth and our nation as a student abolitionist, patriot, lawyer, educated. Diplomat and public official. In 1829, langston was born a free man in virginia and later following the death of his parents moved to ohio. Langstons brother ensured he received a good education and he graduated from Overland College and became one of our nations first black attorneys and first black elected officials. As he was the town clerk in ohio. As an abolitionist, langston risked his life to resist those escaping slavery along the underground railroad. As a patriot, he joined Frederick Doug lus and abolitionists to recruit black men to fight for the union and turn the tide of the civil war. As an educator, he helped establish the nations first black law school in two of virginias greatest civil rights attorneys. Thurgood america civil rights attorneys, Thurgood Marshall and oliver hill as well as virginias first africanamerican governor. Langston serveled as the first president of what today is Virginia State university in petersburg. Langston was encourageled by both white and blacks to run for the u. S. House of representatives in 1888. Initially appeared to be that he lost. He contested the results due to voter intimidation and fraud. The u. S. House of representatives eventually declared him the winner and he took his seat september 23rd 1890 and was only able to serve the few remaining months in his term. He lost bid for reelection and left an indelible cause on freedom. A par trait hangs in my office, a invisible reminder of one of the many visionary black virginians and americans, helped shape a more perfect union. We may never know all of the names and stories in 1619 but as we remember mourn and honor them, let us also remember the trail blazers like John Mercer Langston who followed them, believed in and, believed in and fought for a nation to live up to its creed. I hope that reflecting on our nations complicated history reminds us to work to achieve liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Please welcome the honorable elaine g. Lureia, the United States house of representatives for the second Congressional District of virginia. Good morning. 400 years ago, our commonwealth was a pivotal historical first. For example. We recently celebrated the 400th anniversary of the first legislative session in jamestown. This event led to Representative Democracy in america and continues to influence our society for the better. But American History isnt all uplifting and convenient. In fact, its messy and its complicated. Our past contains difficult truths we must learn from so we can be empowered and equipped to correct todays injustices. One of those difficult truths is that our commonwealth specifically fort monroe, the land we are standing on now is the sight of where the first enslaved africans and british north america arrived 400 years ago. Today we remember this history that continues to shape our nation. We also honor the bravery of those who escaped slavery here. Frank baker, shepard malory and james townsend, all of whom paved the way for thousands more. As one of the fellow representatives here in Hampton Rhodes, im proud that fort monroe serves as a symbol of the courage and heroism that emerged from americas original sin of slavery. And from a military community perspective, we know the fight for freedom is one that has been waged with great costs, including many thousands of africanamericans from virginia who have contributed to the safety, security and freedom of this nation. Many came from or fought in Hampton Rhodes community. We are remind of men of women harvey, born into slavery in norfolk, he joined the union army during the civil war and made his mark during the 1863 assault on fort wagner in charleston, south carolina. As a Soldier Holding the union flag was killed, mr. Carney ran to catch the falling flag, raised it high and kept marching despite his own multiple wounds. He made his way back to the union side, never once dropping the flag. His actions were an inspiration to his fellow soldiers. Unfortunately, mr. Carney had to wait until 1,900, learn the years to receive recognition for his efforts. By then, other africanamericans have received medals of hop nor, but because of his actions had occurred first, mr. Carney is considered to be the first africanamerican medal of honor recipient. Africanamericans who fought for American Freedom must be remembered, in part, because they, themselvessh were not free. Nor did they benefit from the liberties given to other americans. Clearly, their sacrifice went above and beyond. As president obama once said, fort monroe played an Important Role in some of the darkest and some of the most heroic moments in American History. We have the power to transform symbols of injustice into bastions of knowledge. As we look at todays speakers and reflect on the complex history of our community, let us remember the past so we can pave the way to a brighter future. Above all, lets recommit together towards a better america. Thank you. Please welcome to the podium the 73rd governor of virginia, the honorable ralph s. Northam. Please be seated. Good morning. What a beautiful setting this is. I thank you for the privilege of speaking to you at fort monroe today. As a former member and vice chairman of the fort Monroe Authority, its always a pleasure to be here at this site. Thank you all for being here today to commemorate 400 years of American History. For those of you from out of state, welcome to virginia its great to be here today with former governors, now senators mark warner and tim kaine, former governors macdonald and blouse. I also want to recognize attorney general mark herring, congressman bobby scott, congresswoman elaine lureia, House Speaker curt cox, members of our legislative black caucus and other elected officials. I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make this commemoration a reality. Fort Monroe Authority director. For the chairman, members of the fort Monroe Authority board, Fort Monroe National superintendent terry brown. The National Parks service. Kathy spangler, Nancy Rodriguez and the team from american evoluti evolution. Id also like to thank the hampton 2019 commemorative commission for the hard work around their home events in their home city. We are here today for a commemoration and a reckoning. Today is a time to reckon with the fact that 400 years ago enslaved africans arrived for the first time on virginia shores. Like you and me, they had lives and families, lives and families they would never see again. Just up the river in jamestown, a few weeks earlier, white land owning men had come together to establish a system of Representative Government but that system did not represent all of the people who arrived here at old point cutler. People whose skin looked different than mine. That government did not represent them during 246 years of slavery. It did not represent them through nearly 100 years of reconstruction and jim crowe terror and discrimination and in many ways, it struggles to represent them today. That is the truth and that is what we must reckon with as we move forward. How do we tell the full and true story of our past 400 years. How do we do so with honor and dignity for people whose honor and dignity were taken away from them . Who should tell the story . And how do we learn from those lessons as we move forward . Idab. Wells wrote that the way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them. If we are going to begin to truly write the wrongs of our four centuries of history, if we are going to turn the light of truth upon them, we have to start with ourselves. Over the past several months as i have met with people around the state and listened to their views on disparities and inequities that still exist today, ive had to confront some painful truths. Among those truths was my own incomplete understanding regarding race and equity. I have learned a great deal from those discussions and i have more to learn, but i also learned that the more i know the more i can do. You see, for too long the burden has been on individuals and communities of color to lead these discussions. But if more of us have these hard conversations and truly listen and learn from them, well be better able to shine that light of truth. Because the eyes cant see what the mind doesnt know. We can start those conversations at places like this, fort monroe, the ground where the first enslaveding aens landed. This is also the same ground where the end of slavery began. It was here where enslaved people sought refuge and were granted it. A decision that eventually led to emancipation. General butlers contraband decision has been hailed by ed ayers, a nationally known historian of the american south. And a member of the fort Monroe Authority as the greatest moment in American History. Virginia is the place where enslaved africans first landed and where american Representative Democracy was born. Virginia is the place where emancipation began and the confederal capital was located. Virginia is the place where schools were closed under massive resistance, rather than desegregate and allow black children to attend and it is the state that elected the nations first africanamerican government. Virginia is a place of contradictions and compl