Press Release: January 23, 2004

Press Release: January 23, 2004
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

EVT EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTIONS LAUNCHES "THEN I'LL BE FREE TO TRAVEL HOME - THE LEGACY OF THE NEW YORK AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND" A MAJOR MULTI-PART RADIO DOCUMENTARY SERIES.

"...The free Black population...begins to emerge in about the 1640s...for a period of about 25 years in American history, you have a community that gave the American Dream to people of all color. This is the only Community where you could find a free Black Community, a free White Community, even Native Americans, some Asians here..." -Christopher Moore

Where? In old New Amsterdam: thriving, prospering, living together in peace and harmony almost 400 years ago...It's intriguingly, engagingly revealed in "THEN I'LL BE FREE TO TRAVEL HOME - The Legacy of the New York African Burial Ground."

This Ground Breaking 13-part Documentary Series is believed to be the first time such an in-depth historical exploration of what a diverse, multi-ethnic, multi-racial society we have always been has been done for Public Radio. Says Executive Producer Eric V. Tait, Jr.,

"The Series uses the discovery and legacy of the New York African Burial Ground to tellingly capture the significant impact and contributions African-Americans have made to the social, economic, and political development of the United States in their almost 400-year battle against slavery and for full, first-class citizenship. It's a battle that involves all people and all races."

It chronicles factual stories about ordinary citizens and larger than life people of all backgrounds who made this nation what it is today. Come meet the Lenapes and Jan Rodrigues; Susannah Anthony Roberts, Solomon Peters, Josiah Huddy, Colonel Tye and the Black Brigade; David Walker, David Ruggles and Elizabeth Jennings; the Tappan Brothers, Catherine "Katie" Ferguson, and Sergeant William H. Carney.

It's American History as you've never known it - from 1613 to 2004: dramatic, exciting, diverse, and authentically informative. Edited at Integrated Automata Studios in Montclair, NJ, and SuMo Productions of Silver Springs, MD, the Series is produced by EVT Educational Productions, Inc., in association with Station WBGO/Jazz 88.3FM, Newark, NJ.

Thurston Briscoe, WBGO Program Director is Host and Narrator. Jacquie Gales Webb is Chief Editor and Consulting Producer. Musical Arranger, Composer and Peformer - Daryl M. Waters, with solo performances by Noel Pointer and Ebony Jo Ann. Funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PRI, Public Radio International, "Then I'll Be Free To Travel Home" is being distributed by Public Radio International ® and begins airing nationally this coming February.

PRI is the Minneapolis-based public radio network and audio publisher that supports and distributes programs, many of which are created by leading national producers and are broadcast by its 745 public radio station affiliates. PRI programming also is available on locally-branded public radio station websites, internationally through the World Radio Network, and nationwide via Sirius Satellite Radio.

For more information about this landmark series, contact: Creative PR: (888-233-5650; info@creativepublicity.com).

Read the February 12, 2004 Press Release.

Read the March 31, 2004 Press Release.