On Jan. 1, 2018, U.S. Congress enacted “HR1242 the 400 Years of African-American History Commission Act.”
The Commission’s purpose is to plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities throughout the United States that: recognize and highlight the resilience and cultural contributions of Africans and African Americans over 400 years (1619-2019); acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination had on the United States; encourage civic, patriotic, historical, educational, artistic, religious, and economic organizations to organize and take part in anniversary activities; assist states, localities, and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration

Along the Mississippi River at Natchez two days of anniversary activities will take place Friday and Saturday.

The public is invited to join in with local “civic, patriotic, historical and educational” agencies and “nonprofit” organizations that are doing their part to answer Congress and the Commission’s call to organize and take part in America’s official “400 Years Commemoration.”
On Friday Oct. 25 at Natchez the Fulani Prince Ibrahima & Isabella Freedom Foundation Inc’s Reflecting on America’s “400 Years Commemoration” Tour will be welcomed with a local historical tour and public reception.
PIFF will be welcomed under the theme of Natchez, Adams County and community organizations also Commemorates and Salutes 300 Years of its African Descendants’ Presence and Contributions (1719-2019) and the struggle continues.
The hosts for the PIFF tour are Mayor of Natchez, Adams County Board of Supervisors, FOR Natchez, Natchez Visitor Convention Bureau and Friends of Forks of Roads Society Inc.
Persons desiring to take the bus tour of local historical sites need to assemble on the Parking Lot of the Natchez Visitors Center at 9 a.m. Friday.
Visit three original land based sites of enslaved Africans by the French, Fort Rosalie 1729 annihilation site, ride along Prince Ibrahima and Isabella trail from the river to Greenwood Plantation, to Washington, stop at Forks of Roads and downtown Natchez enslavement selling markets sites and Civil War freedom sites.
Visit The Two Ser Boxley’s Atlantic and America’s Domestic Enslavement Trade Exhibitions at the African American Museum & Natchez Visitors’ Center.
Starting at the corners of Franklin and Wall Street go on a walking procession to Under The Hill at 4 p.m.
Attend public welcome Reception at Natchez Community Room 215 Franklin Street 5 to 8 P.M. 

On Saturday Oct. 26  starting at 10 a.m. rain or shine, at historic Jefferson College the 12th Black and Blue Civil War Living History Program in conjunction with America’s Official Commemoration of the“400 Years” anniversary (1619-2019) of Africans-in-America presence and development contributions will focus on raising public awareness about the forgotten history of runaway “slaves” Union civil war freedom fighting veterans and the Department of Mississippi and Louisiana Grand Army of the Republic and Woman’s Relief Corps.
They built the African-American communities as they have come to be known today. They were the first Black leaders and developers of family, citizenship, churches (Beulah, Clermont others), public schools & colleges, an agrarian economy, participatory politics, social structures, fraternal orders and benevolent societies. They were the first students, teachers, educators and agriculturists and more.
Presenters will be Chris Goodman, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Bill Justice Vicksburg National Military Park, Yvonne Lewis, Patrick Shell, Greg Myles, Darrell White, Jamal McCullen, Kacie Holcombe, Cheryl Wilkinson, keynote presenter, Jeremy Houston, Czvaniah Brooks, Danielle Terrell, Ron Miller (Mimi), Jomyriana Rabotte, Inetta Miller Gospel singer Songbird, David Dreyer and Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-CM Boxley.

Ser Seshsh Ab Heter-CM Boxley is coordinator, Friends of Forks of Roads Society Inc.