Tybee Island Honors Enslaved Ancestors with Lazaretto Day

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Community gathering at Lazaretto Day event on Tybee Island

News Summary

Tybee Island will commemorate Lazaretto Day on March 22, recognizing the history and contributions of enslaved Africans. The event, now in its fifth year, will include activities such as music performances, inspirational speeches, and discussions on ongoing projects aimed at honoring enslaved individuals. The event underscores the importance of reconciliation and education on the historical significance of slavery in the region.

Tybee Island Commemorates Lazaretto Day to Honor Enslaved Ancestors

Tybee Island will host Lazaretto Day on March 22, celebrating the history and legacy of enslaved Africans brought to Georgia’s coast. This year marks the event’s fifth anniversary.

The annual commemoration will take place from noon to 6 p.m. at Memorial Park, located at 401 Jones Ave. Attendees can expect a variety of activities including:

Afrocentric vendors
Lively music performances
Inspirational speeches from historians and community leaders

Historian Kwasi deGraph Hanson from Atlanta will discuss plans for a monument honoring enslaved individuals. Notably, between 1795 and 1803, approximately 667 enslaved Africans arrived on Tybee Island after enduring the Middle Passage.

While healthy individuals were sold in Savannah, those who died were buried in unmarked graves near Lazaretto Creek. In alignment with its commitment to racial equality, the Tybee City Council passed a justice and equity resolution in 2021, which included plans for a historic display at Lazaretto Creek. This project has not yet been fulfilled.

Lazaretto Day will feature talks by Amir Jamal Touré, who will speak on the African spirit, and Patrice Jackson, who will present an artistic cultural offering. Musical acts will include local favorites Soul Graffitti and Xulu the Prophet.

Julia Pearce, founder of TybeeMLK, underscores the event’s purpose: “Lazaretto Day symbolizes the transformation of recognizing wrongs into actions for reconciliation and growth.” The event creates a platform for discussing the historical significance of slavery and its ongoing impact on the community.

Since the legalization of slavery in Georgia in 1750, Savannah became a significant slave trading port. The Lazaretto was established in 1768 as a quarantine facility for enslaved Africans prior to their sale.

Local residents have been monthly working towards a healing memorial at the Lazaretto site, as part of the efforts of the Lazaretto Coalition to promote awareness and respect for this significant historical location.

Pearce, a retired registered nurse with extensive community service experience, has initiated projects such as the Tybee Island Black History Trail and various cultural programming events. The event will also honor the contributions of Wanda S. Lloyd, the recipient of the inaugural Lazaretto Legacy Award for her work in journalism and storytelling.