About the Event

A warm welcome to the 3rd edition of RUN RICHMOND 16.19, the cultural running and walking event the Djimon Hounsou Foundation will host in Richmond, Virginia, on September 20-21, 2024, in collaboration with the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, Sports Backers, and over 35 community/nonprofit partners.

All together, we commemorate the sacrifices & achievements the African American community has made to our nation and celebrate Unity in Diversity in an intentional effort to bring people together to connect, heal and reconcile. Our chairman, the 2-times Oscar-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou, who famously starred in Steven Spielberg’s movie Amistad, will attend this year’s event in person again.

Join us to celebrate Black history, community & culture.
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This community-powered event consists of 3 unique experiences as described below:

One Weekend, three meaningful events.

1

Time To Heal

Friday, September 20, 2024 | 5:30–08:00 PM

We hold a guided meditation practice & libation ceremony at “Ground Zero” – formerly the location of America’s 2nd biggest slave market – that reflects on the intergenerational trauma of the African American community and imagines a path towards collective healing. This is a free community event. More details will be announced soon.

 

2

Run Richmond 16.19

Saturday, September 21, 2024 | 7:00–11:15 AM

Our cultural run-or-walk event offers two courses that allow you to run through more than 400 years of Black history: A 16.19K Run and a 6.19K Run/Walk.

You’ll have the opportunity to download a free audio app that converts your phone into an outdoor museum guide. The race also includes a libation ceremony held by the Elegba Folklore Society.

 

3

Africa Reconnect

Saturday 21, 2024 | 10:00–2:00 PM

Our free finish festival celebrates the beauty of African and African American culture through a live performance by Might Joshua (reggae band), a drum circle, electric slide dancing, great food, and a vendor village.

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Djimon Hounsou Foundation presents

16.19K Run

16.19 kilometers | 10.06 miles

This symbolic course of 16.19 kilometers lets you experience +400 years of Black History on a unique running course through Richmond. It features the highlights of the short route as well as Rocket’s Landing and Ancarrow’s Landing, the places where Africans first set foot on American soil after been shipped upstream to Richmond.

  • Event Date: Sat, Sep 21, 2024
  • Start/Finish: Kanawha Plaza, Richmond, VA
  • Start Time: 8:00 AM
  • Minimum Pace: 18 min/mile (3.3 mi/h | 5.4 km/h)
  • Time last runner/walker needs to reach finish: 11:15 am
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Djimon Hounsou Foundation presents

6.19K Run/Walk

6.19 kilometers | 3.85 miles

Our short distance of 6.19K allows you to experience Shockoe Bottom, Church Hill, Capitol District, Jackson Ward and Gambles Hill by foot. It’s the ideal distance to run or walk with your entire family.

  • Event Date: Sat, Sep 21
  • Start/Finish: Kanawha Plaza, Richmond, VA
  • Start Time: 8:45 AM
  • Minimum Pace: 36 min/mile (1.7 mi/h | 2.7 km/h)
  • Time last runner/walker needs to reach finish: 11:15 am

Note: Our cut-off-times are very walker-friendly. Unless you’re on crutches, you’ll make it!

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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 16.19K and 6.19K.

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FAQ

  • How many race distances do you offer?

    We offer 2 distances for this event: 16.19K and 6.19K.

  • When does the race start?

    The 16.19K Run starts at 8:00 am at Kanawha Plaza and the 6.19K Run/Walk at 8:45 am.

  • How much do you charge?

    Please review our individual race pages.

  • What is your cancellation / refund policy?

    Our entry fees are non-refundable, no matter whether there is a race postponement, cancellation and/or if you are unable to participate; however you may buy a race insurance during checkout or transfer your entry to another person. We’ll only charge a $10 fee from the recipient for participant transfers and you’ll recover the race entry fees directly from your friend. Just visit the self-service portal of our registration partner Run Signup to do so.

  • Can I switch races after I registered?

    Yes, you'll have access to your registration on Run Signup: https://runsignup.com/. This link can also be found if you click on our account icon in the header or on the sign up link. We charge a $5 processing fee for race transfers.

Join us to celebrate Black history, community & culture.
Register

Our Event Goals

1

Commemorate the sacrifices & achievements African Americans have made to our nation since the beginning of the Transatlantic Slave Trade by America’s British Colonies in 1619.

2

Celebrate the powerful impact of African / African American culture, promote Unity in Diversity, and take a stand for racial equality.

3

Create a cultural movement to preserve Pan-African identity and reconnect the countries of the diaspora with their motherland, roots & culture.

4

Closely collaborate with the City of Richmond, local grass-roots organizations, educational institutions, black-run businesses and individuals to empower the RVA community. 

5

Help people discover their family roots and create awareness that we are one people.

6

Raise charitable funds for the Djimon Hounsou Foundation to reconnect the African Diaspora & combat modern day slavery and human trafficking.

AFRICA RECONNECT

Run Richmond 16.19 is part of the AFRICA RECONNECT Event Series that the Djimon Hounsou Foundation will be rolling out over the coming years. These events aim to symbolically reverse the direction of the slave trade, showcase how the past is connected to the present and future, and celebrate Unity in Diversity.

Our three event locations (1) Richmond, VA, (2) Liverpool, UK, and (3) Ouidah, West Africa were all important centers during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. They now form the Triangle of Hope.

North America

Richmond

United Kingdom

Liverpool

West Africa

Ouidah

Transatlantic Slave Trade Triangle

 

Why did we select these places in particular? Richmond, Liverpool, and Ouidah are the three host cities of a stunning memorial, the Reconciliation Statue. Created by Liverpool-based artist Stephen Broadbent, they represent a powerful apology for the unspeakable horrors and lasting consequences of slavery. When connected through straight lines, these sculptures form the Triangle of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, a trade that the British Colonies in North America joined in the Year 1619. While slavery existed in the Americas before then, the year 1619 marks a foundational historic date in our shared history.

 

The inscription of the Reconciliation Statue beautifully summarizes our vision:

Acknowledge and forgive the past. Embrace the present. Shape a future of reconciliation and justice.