Share this @internewscast.com

In an unprecedented act, descendants of some of the most prominent Civil Rights leaders from the 1950s and ’60s and other foundational historic figures are gathering at the White House on Tuesday, some convening in the same room for the first time.

The families of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington, Ida B. Wells, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Emmett Till, and Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, among others, are scheduled to attend.

The Descendants, as the group calls itself, will pay homage to their familial legacies as they celebrate the Black History Month event hosted by the Biden-Harris administration.

Joshua Jordison, one of the behind-the-scenes coordinators for The Descendants, said discussions to bring this group together began several years ago. 

“It was amazing that many of them had never met,” he said.

Invitations went out to other notable families, organizers said, although some were unable to attend due to scheduling and other factors.

“Having carried the ancestral weight of history upon our shoulders, The Descendants possess the unique ability to lead our nation in a much-needed spirit of collaboration and community,” Kenneth B. Morris Jr., a descendent of Frederick Douglass and his first wife, Anna Murray Douglass, told NBC News.

“This historic event marks the beginning of coalescing The Descendants’ families and like-minded leaders and organizations to catalyze transformative positive societal change amongst the most significant challenges faced by our country,” Morris said. 

Morris is also a descendant of Booker T. Washington, he said, whose families were joined by marriage in the 1940s.

Through the nonprofit he co-founded, Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, Morris’ work and that of his mother, Nettie Washington Douglass, has centered around antiracism and human rights. But he stressed that while he helped organize the convening, it is not about one person or family. “It’s an equal collaboration. We are all coming together,” he said.

Ernestine “Tina” Martin Wyatt is a great-great-great-grandniece of Harriet Tubman. The Washington, D.C., resident hosts an annual Harriet Tubman Day celebration in the district to educate the public about the contributions of her famed ancestor. She said she was “excited” to meet the descendants of fellow freedom fighters.

Nearly 100 other guests are also expected to attend. Morris is among those expected to give remarks at the White House reception, along with several members of the Congressional Black Caucus and administration officials. Organizers were not sure if the president or vice president would stop by. 

Beyond the official gathering, a series of activities for the descendant families will be held in the district on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Their itinerary is expected to include stops at the U.S. Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, Supreme Court and a tour of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, as well as dinners and opportunities for group dialogue.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Who was eliminated in week 9? 'Dancing with the Stars' throws epic 20th birthday party, topped off with 4 perfect scores

Dancing with the Stars Shocker: Week 9 Elimination Revealed Amid Epic 20th Birthday Bash and Perfect Scores!

LOS ANGELES — “Dancing with the Stars” marked its 20th anniversary in…
Construction to begin on Jacksonville's Latter-day Saints temple in January

Jacksonville’s New Latter-day Saints Temple Set to Break Ground in January

Excitement is building in Mandarin as the stage is set for a…
'Shoot on Sight' in Chicago: The Price of the Left’s War on Law Enforcement

Chicago’s ‘Shoot on Sight’ Policy: Examining the Impact of Political Tensions on Law Enforcement

Federal agents in Chicago are facing an alarming situation: a notorious street…
Chicago man with 25 prison sentences commits new burglaries within 48 hours of release

Chicago’s Infamous Repeat Offender Strikes Again: A Shocking 48-Hour Crime Spree Following 25 Sentences

A career criminal from Chicago, whose activities span over 40 years, has…
How Aurora Police Department officers learn to defuse volatile situations, including mental health crises

Aurora Police Department’s Innovative Training Techniques for Defusing Volatile Situations and Addressing Mental Health Crises

CHICAGO (WLS) — In traditional police training, officers are often instructed to…
Federal inmates gather in prison yard

Sheriff Raises Concerns Over California’s ‘Mental Health’ Legislation, Citing Risks of Releasing Dangerous Individuals

In California, a law designed to divert individuals with mental health issues…
Nigerian Christian leader calls Trump's spotlight on violence in Nigeria an 'answered prayer'

Nigerian Christian Leader Praises Trump’s Focus on Nigeria’s Violence as a “Blessing

The leader of a Nigerian mission has expressed that President Donald Trump’s…
Nico Harrison makes Instagram change after Mavericks firing

Nico Harrison Updates Instagram Following Departure from Mavericks

Nico Harrison’s tenure with the Dallas Mavericks came to an abrupt end,…
Eddie Murphy Revisits David Spade’s Infamous Diss That Sparked ‘SNL’ Feud in ‘Being Eddie’: “F–k Y’all, That’s What Y’all Think of Me?”

Eddie Murphy Opens Up About SNL Feud with David Spade in ‘Being Eddie’: “That’s What You Think of Me?

The Netflix documentary Being Eddie sheds light on Eddie Murphy’s bygone grudge…
Uber Chicago news: New women-only Uber driver option becomes available in Chicago Wednesday

Chicago Welcomes Uber’s Women-Only Driver Feature Starting This Wednesday

Uber is introducing a new safety feature specifically designed for women, with…
'I miss him so much': Friend remembers contractor fatally stabbed on first day at Anheuser-Busch

Heartfelt Tribute: Friend Honors Contractor Tragically Lost on First Day at Anheuser-Busch

Antoine Autry is fondly remembered as a dynamic and kind-hearted young man…
Major Chinese bridge collapses into river just months after opening to traffic

Shocking Collapse: Newly Opened Chinese Bridge Crumbles into River—What Went Wrong?

A significant bridge at a hydropower station in Southwest China collapsed on…