August 30: Gabriel’s Rebellion Day
This year, the Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project invites you to commemorate Gabriel’s Rebellion Day on Sunday, August 30 with two events: the unveiling of a new historic highway marker and a public update about the current state of The Shockoe Project.
On October 10, 2004, the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality organized the unveiling event of the first historic marker within the city limits to honor Gabriel’s Rebellion and the existence of the first municipal cemetery for the burials of the city’s Black people. In December that year, we formed the Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project and took on the mission to make Gabriel's Rebellion and the Burial Ground as popularly known as possible for Richmonders. We began with some knowledge and have learned along the way, determined to amplify historical knowledge as important element in understanding present day social conditions. We have commemorated this learning n Oct. 10 as an annual ritual since 2004.
Later research has changed what we know about where Gabriel and his Richmond compatriots died; therefore, a new marker with accurate information will be unveiled on Aug. 30. We will also hold a public discussion to serve as a reminder of the goals of the original Shockoe Bottom Memorial Park and how those goals are playing out in the process and construction of the The Shockoe Project.
The original marker, titled "Gabriel's Execution," will be removed and stored until a decision is made about its fate: donation to an institution or recycled.
Later research has changed what we know about where Gabriel and his Richmond compatriots died; therefore, a new marker with accurate information will be unveiled on Aug. 30. We will also hold a public discussion to serve as a reminder of the goals of the original Shockoe Bottom Memorial Park and how those goals are playing out in the process and construction of the The Shockoe Project.
The original marker, titled "Gabriel's Execution," will be removed and stored until a decision is made about its fate: donation to an institution or recycled.
Also, in 2004, the Sacred Ground Project chose an Adinkra symbol, "nea onnim," from the Akan people of Ghana for its logo. Nea Onnim means, "Those who do not know will know from learning." Our work on promoting the history of Gabriel's Rebellion and the African Burial Ground in the Bottom has epitomized this idea as ongoing learning. Like Sankofa, our August and October events help us look back at what we need for the future. We learn and we progress.
