Djimon Hounsou Bridging The Gap Between The Motherland And Her Diasporans With Run Richmond 16.19
Benin-born actor, activist and model Djimon Hounsou is intent on bridging the gap between Africans and her diasporans. In his latest project, the 58-year-old hosted and organized a 16.19-kilometer run on September 17.
The Run Richmond 16.19 was touted as an event “celebrating unity in diversity.”
About the purpose of the race, Hounsou said, “Our vision for RUN RICHMOND 16.19 is to commemorate the sacrifices and achievements our African American brothers & sisters have made to our nation and celebrate Unity in Diversity through symbolic courses of 16.19 km and 6.19 mi.”
The routes of the races were equally important as the distance, which commemorated the year Africans initially set foot in Virginia. The paths of the run passed through Rocket’s Landing, and Ancarrow’s Landing– the locations believed to be the landing spots for the first Africans sent to Richmond, Virginia.
Hounsou’s self-titled non-profit organization launched in December 2019. The actor and activist’s vision was to build a bridge between the continent and her children abroad.
“My vision for the Djimon Hounsou Foundation is to champion a visceral connection between the countries of the African diaspora and the motherland and to heal the wounds that slavery left behind.”
The organization’s goal is to “Strengthen Africa’s intergenerational identity and self-awareness by reconnecting the Peoples of the African Diaspora with their motherland.”
It also fights to “combat modern-day slavery & human trafficking to stop exploitation, loss of freedom, and identity, and educate about the causes, stakes and consequences of slavery.”
