MHA 28th Union/Conference

The Melungeon Heritage Association’s 28th Union

This year’s Union/conference has come and gone, but we are now beginning to plan next year’s Union which will be in Johnson City, Tennessee. Here were some highlights and pictures from the 28th Union which was held in Hillsborough, North Carolina back in June.

On Friday, June 21st we had several excursions. We began the day at the Stagville Plantation where we received a private tour of the grounds. Next we had lunch at the Bennett’s Place Grill, and then followed it up with a tour of Bennett’s Place, which is where General Johnston of the Confederacy surrendered to General Sherman of the Union Army brining the Civil War to an end.

Several of our members got a private tour of downtown Hillsborough with Judge Beverly Scarlett as their guide visiting locations like the Occaneechi/Saponi village, Hillsborough Courthouse, and the Orange County History Museum. 

We wrapped up the evening at the Burwell School with a delicious home cooked dinner provided my Judge Beverly Scarlett’s cousin Preston Mayo and his wife, Chastity. We finished the day with a much needed and thought inducing Generational Trauma workshop with Dr. Melissa Carver and Leo Carver.

For Saturday, June 22nd we had a day full of scholarly, thought provoking, and engaging speakers featuring: Marvin Jones, Nelson Dalton, Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck, Dr. Kimberly Cheek, John King, and Judge Beverly Scarlett. At the end of the day, we had the pleasure of viewing the documentary, “Duality: A Collection of Afro-Indigenous Perspectives,” by filmmakers Frederick Murphy and Kimberly Knight, who were in attendance to answer questions at the end of the viewing. 

It was a weekend full of learning, kinship, and fun! Even though it is over now, we have next year’ s MHA Union/conference to look forward to and I hope to see many of you there next year as well!