August 23, 2025 – Hampton, VA
The 2025 Annual 1619 Commemoration of the First Enslaved African Landing featured acclaimed actor Djimon Hounsou as a special guest speaker alongside award-winning author, historian, and documentary filmmaker Ric Murphy.
Hounsou is an internationally recognized actor whose film credits include Amistad, Gladiator, Blood Diamond, and Guardians of the Galaxy. He received Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in In America and Blood Diamond.
Murphy has earned international recognition for his documentary Arrival of the First Africans in English America, including Semi-Finalist, Best Documentary at the Cannes World Film Festival (2023), Best First-Time Film Director and Best Documentary at the Portugal Indie Film Festival (2023), and Best of Festival honors at the Juneteenth Florida Arts and Film Festival. Together, they brought powerful perspectives on history, resilience, and the enduring legacy of the African American experience.