New York mega church ‘remembers’ with MAAFA Celebration

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Sept. 5, 2013 - PRLog -- September 4, 2013 – Brooklyn, NY - St. Paul Community Baptist Church (http://www.spcbc.com) presents the 19th Commemoration of The MAAFA (http://www.themaafa.com) – a powerful series of panel speakers, workshops, museum tours and worship, culminated by a moving stage play that provides a powerful tribute to the healing journey of American slavery. The event - scheduled for September 16 through September 28, 2013 - will take place exclusively on the church campus located at 859 Hendrix Street in Brooklyn.

St. Paul’s MAAFA celebration this year themed “Dreams of Freedom,” is arguably one of the longest running and largest commemorations of its kind. With more than 3,000 attendees each year, the event is infused with 13 days of free and moderately priced events for a diverse audience.

This year’s slate of speakers, preachers and panelists include:  Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, Il; Rev. Dr. Keith A. Russell, New York Theological Seminary, New York, NY; Monica F. Walker, Anti-Racism Organizer, Greensboro, NC; and Dr. Edwin Nichols, Clinical/Industrial Psychologist, Washington, D.C.

ABOUT THE MAAFA AT ST. PAUL
St. Paul’s Pastor Emeritus Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood provided the leadership and inspiration that gave birth to the annual commemoration in 1994.

The term 'MAAFA' (pronounced MA-AH’-FA) is a Kiswahili word that gives definition to the catastrophic event experienced by  millions of  African people during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, also known as The Middle Passage journey from freedom in Africa to bondage in the New World.

‘MAAFA’ is the concept of African America scholar and author Dr. Marimba Ani and has been adopted in contemporary scholarship.

ABOUT SPCBC
St. Paul Community Baptist church has served the borough of Brooklyn since 1927. A community-based, outreach ministry, St. Paul Community is committed to sharing the Word of God through dynamic preaching, teaching, as well as being a leader in advocating for social justice, health, criminal justice services to edify and advance the lives of its congregants and immediate community.


Media notes:
Get Social:  Members of the media can keep up with St. Paul’s MAAFA updates by following us on Twitter using the following hashtags: #MAAFABK13

Find and use photos for your stories by downloading our photos from last year’s event from our Flickr.

Additional Note: This is an interactive press release.

If hyperlinks are disabled, view the below sites in long form:

If hyperlinks are disabled, view the below sites in long form:
Website - www.spcbc.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/SPCBCBKNY (@SPCBCBKNY)
Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/spcbc_griots/sets/7215763539...

St. Paul MAAFA Photos: please email Monica Britton at mbritton@spcbc.com