On Saturday, Oct. 23, we will gather in Wiscasset to honor James Weldon Johnson, whose exemplary life in service of racial justice began in Jacksonville, Florida in 1871 and ended all too soon, in Wiscasset in 1938.

Interested citizens from Wiscasset and Jacksonville will join together with members of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous, and Maine Tribal Populations in hosting a day-long program aimed at soliciting input from a broad range of stakeholders and engaged citizens as we begin planning to memorialize this seminal figure of our nation’s history. We very much hope you will join us.

With the passage last spring of LD 1441, Maine designated June 17 as James Weldon Johnson Day. Local efforts to memorialize the renowned author of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” known as the Black national anthem, will now be amplified by a yearly statewide observance, to include celebrations and educational initiatives connected to broader national and international remembrance programs.

As of June 17, 2022, the quintessential coastal town of Wiscasset will serve as the premier site in our state for activating public memory around this inspiring leader's life and legacy, with exciting implications for cultural tourism.

Beginning at 10:30 a.m., our day together at Wiscasset Community Center will include tributes, a site visit, an open forum and much more. As we enjoy lunch, local historians will share stories about Wiscasset’s own African American citizens. We look forward to seeing you! Attendance is limited to 50, so please RSVP by Wednesday, Oct. 20 at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefyI1ODRBgbbPi1m_J0f-6HbQLlWc5d-ojK-4PwL7tEMJX0w/viewform