Two groups at Florida A&M University have come together to celebrate Black History Month in a very unique way. With the burial of a time capsule, they plan to pass the story of 2020 and 2021 on to future generations in hopes of inspiring nostalgia and change. Read the full story from Andrew Skerritt at FAMU Forward below.
A time capsule containing a collection of Florida A&M University mementos, artifacts, posters, pictures, and letters was buried to kick off Black History Month. The container is scheduled to be opened on February 29, 2040. The event was done as a collaboration between the Black History Alliance and the FAMU Black Archives and Research Center.
The time capsule project will send an important message to future generations, said Priscilla Hawkins, founder and creator of the Black History Alliance (BHA) and the Black History Month Festival.
“It’s important for us, as Black people, to tell our own stories. I view this Time Capsule as an extension of our ancestors’ oral tradition of sharing the stories that are important to us,” Hawkins said. “Stories that have impacted our lives. And leaving these stories as our legacy to future generations.”
The BHA’s mission is to provide year-round Black History educational, social and civic events, workshops, and other activities to share the stories of black residents in North Florida and South Georgia with people throughout the world,” according to its website.
Some of the letters featured within the capsule came from: FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., Donna Hardy, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority who crafted a memoir in dedication to fellow sorority member Vice President Kamala Harris, and members within the community like teachers and grocery clerks.
Nashid Madyun, Ph.D., director of the Black Archives and Research Center, wrote a letter to the person who will be leading the Center in 19 years. The time capsule is the apt vehicle to send a message to warn future generations, he said.
“Humanity generally has the benefit of hindsight, but this project allows us the to control the luxury of foresight and uplift in our society,” said Madyun. “We see the ills, challenges and triumphs of today and we are able to communicate that directly to next generation in 2040. This time capsule is a blessing to the continuous improvement of our culture.”
Also featured within the capsule were letters from four students who won the Eva B. Mannings Student Essay contest who are currently 10 and 11 years of age. In 2040, when it’s time to unearth the time capsule, those same students, who will be 30 and 31 years of age, will be asked to open the container. The letters are meant to provide insight on what life was like in 2020/2021.
