Acclaimed '1619' One-Man Show Captivates Audience

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Ted Williams III, an educator, civic leader, and playwright, recently performed his acclaimed one-man show '1619: The Journey of a People' at the Flossmoor Public Library. The 90-minute production, which blends documentary, music, and spoken word, captivated the audience as Williams channeled historical figures like Booker T. Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to tell the story of the first Africans arriving in colonial America in 1619 and their subsequent 250 years of slavery.

Why it matters

Williams' work aims to educate and engage people on issues of social justice and equality by using historical facts to drive home the message that 'Black history is American history.' The performance in Flossmoor was part of the show's ongoing tour, which has received accolades at schools, civic centers, and cultural venues across the country.

The details

During the performance, Williams single-handedly set up the props, music, and visuals, seamlessly transitioning between historical figures to deliver a sweeping narrative. He began by noting that the first Africans arrived in Virginia three months before the Mayflower settlers, kicking off nearly 250 years of slavery until its abolition in 1866. The show traces the African American experience through slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and the Civil Rights Movement, up to the present day.

• On August 20, 1619, 20 enslaved Africans arrived at Port Comfort (now Hampton, Virginia).
• Slavery in North America lasted nearly 250 years until it was abolished in 1866.

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