A special Black History Month event was held Wednesday by the British Consulate General Atlanta and The Empowerment Workshop.
British Consul General Rachel Galloway hosted an intimate setting of more than 60 guests at her residence. The evening featured Rita Daniels, the great-great-great grandniece of Harriet Tubman.
Tenor soloist Timothy Miller, who has performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and other orchestras internationally, sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before Daniels discussed her book, “Harriet Tubman: Military Scout and Tenacious Visionary.“
The gathering drew notable political figures such as Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, State Reps. Shea Roberts and Long Tran, State Sen. Jason Esteves, Sandy Springs City Councilwoman Melody Kelley, and East Point Councilman Joshua Butler. Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin also attended.
Galloway acknowledged the relationship of Black people, British colonialism and slavery in history and said that it’s important to remember to reflect on the past, as well as celebrate the relationship of modern times. “Which is based on our shared values and our shared culture,” she said. “And being able to celebrate Black History Month with you is part of that values agenda.”
“An event featuring a Tubman relative is especially impactful during this period in time,” said Le’Dor Milteer, founder of The Empowerment Workshop. The nonprofit works to create a more inclusive and equitable society through events and transformative conversations.
Tubman grew up enslaved on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and has become an iconic figure in American History after helping to free hundreds of men and women.
“I really feel [the gathering] was so important in reminding us of the significance of retelling a story,” Milteer told SaportaReport. “Even if it is a familiar story. Because during these critical times that we are in, we can be uncertain. Sometimes we don’t know what the future holds and we have to take a step back to reflect and say, ‘How did we do this again? How did we get here again?'”
She continued, “And that’s the importance of knowing our history. We say it over and over again: ‘You will never know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’re coming from, and the struggles of that.'”
Daniels resides in metro Atlanta and grew up in Auburn, N.Y., where Tubman spent the final 50 years of her life as a free woman. She told guests of her nearly lifelong wish to visit Ghana, which was the home of Tubman’s grandmother, Modesty, before she was brought across the Atlantic Ocean and to the Eastern Shore in bondage.
Mark Carroll, founder of Mark Carroll and Friends Charity, pledged $500 to help fund her travel to the West African country after hearing Daniels’ wish and requested additional contributions from the attendees.
