By Madisen Carter

For 15 years, the Montgomery MAAFA Commemoration has brought the community together to honor the lives of Africans who endured the transatlantic slave trade while celebrating the strength and resilience of their descendants. More than an annual event, organizers say the commemoration serves as a reminder that history should never be forgotten.

According to organizer Michael Jackson, the MAAFA Commemoration pays tribute to the ancestors who suffered through slavery and acknowledges the sacrifices, trauma, and perseverance that shaped future generations.

“We want to make sure history is never forgotten,” Jackson said. “We honor those ancestors and what they endured while also celebrating that, in spite of everything, we are still here.”

While the commemoration is held annually in Montgomery, Jackson explained that it is part of a much larger international movement. The event is affiliated with the International Coalition Commemorating the African Ancestors of the Middle Passage (I.C.C.A.M.P.), with similar commemorations taking place in cities such as New Orleans, Miami, Washington, D.C., Houston, Mobile, San Francisco, and New York, as well as countries including Brazil and Nigeria.

Jackson said Montgomery’s unique connection to the history of slavery, including Alabama’s ties to the transatlantic slave trade and the story of the Clotilda and Africatown, makes the city’s participation especially meaningful.

This year’s theme, “We Will Never Forget,” encourages participants to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who came before them while recognizing the resilience that continues to define African American communities today.

“In order for us to be where we are today, there were many sacrifices and hardships,” Jackson said. “Those experiences do not define us. They show that we are a strong, resilient people who continue to build on the foundation our ancestors left for us.”

Jackson believes educating younger generations is one of the most important purposes of the commemoration. He hopes the event helps young people understand both the hardships their ancestors endured and the strength that allowed future generations to overcome them.

Looking back on this year’s event, Jackson said reaching the 15th annual commemoration was especially meaningful. He credited its continued success to years of collaboration among community leaders, Alabama State University faculty and students, and local residents who have supported the event since its beginning in 2012.

“This has always been a community effort,” he said. “We’ve accomplished more because people came together with a shared purpose.”

Beyond the annual commemoration, Jackson encouraged community members to stay involved through the organization’s other educational and cultural programs, including its annual Black History program and seven-day Kwanzaa celebration. He also invited residents to follow the Montgomery MAAFA Commemoration on social media and visit its website to learn more about upcoming events.

When asked what he hopes readers remember most, Jackson’s answer was simple.

“Never forget where we came from,” he said. “Our ancestors endured unimaginable hardships, yet they remained resilient. MAAFA allows us to reflect on our history so we can continue moving forward and become better people.”

For Jackson, remembering the past is about more than history—it’s about identity.

“Our ancestors are embedded in who we are,” he said. “Their strength, wisdom, and traditions continue to live through us. Remembering them helps guide us as we move forward.”

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