LEGACY AND LINEAGE SYMPOSIUM
History is inherited. Legacy is what we choose to carry forward.
Join us for an afternoon exploring IAAM’s 2026 theme, Soul(Food) of Freedom, through two powerful conversations about the ways history, memory, tradition, and food carry the African American story forward.
Still Here: Descendants, Memory, and the Work of Reclaiming African American History in the American Story
What does it mean to inherit a history that others have documented, collected, interpreted, or tried to erase?
Moderated by Live5 News’ anchor Samantha German, join Tamara Lanier, Yaba Baker, and Altevese Rosario-Jones as they come together for a conversation about memory, ownership, reclamation, and the right of descendants to shape how their ancestors are remembered.
Together, they will explore what it means to inherit these histories, protect family memory, recover names and stories, challenge incomplete narratives, and ensure descendants have a voice in how their ancestors enter the American story.
The Pot Remembers: Cooking Stories, Carrying Traditions, and Claiming Freedom Across the Diaspora Through Food
What can a dish remember that history books do not?
Celebrated chef and television personality Carla Hall leads The Oxtail Collective: Chefs Chaz Brown, Chad Williams, and Omar Tate, in a conversation exploring food as memory, storytelling, cultural preservation, self-determination, and freedom across the African Diaspora.
From reclaiming the stories of those who came before us to preserving the traditions carried forward through food, The Legacy and Lineage Symposium explores the many ways African American history lives; in our families, our stories, our kitchens, and our communities.
Guests will also enjoy refreshments, live entertainment, and a vendor fair, with an exclusive VIP Meet & Greet and book signing following the symposium.
Event Details
Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
Location: Charleston Marriott
Address: 170 Lockwood Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29403
Doors Open: 11:30 AM | Event Begins: 12:30PM
All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable.