PHOTO ESSAY: “THE POWER OF THE DRUM” BY DAVE PARRISH @RVAPHOTOG

In many ways, Marcus-David Peters Circle has become the epicenter of all things Richmond. Photographers have captured many uplifting and exhilarating moments within the borders of the circle that, as of now, is still overlooked by the ghost of Robert E. Lee.

There have been many special moments in MDP Circle, however, what took place last Saturday could go down as the most memorable and spiritual event to ever take place there. Super-photographer Dave Parrish @RVAPhotog captured the spirit of the Reclamation Drum Circle, hosted by the Elegba Folklore Society, on what would have been Emmett Till’s 79th birthday.

As posted by the Elegba Forklore Society:

“The memory of Emmett Till holds its place in a 400-year-old line of black people lynched, beaten, raped, castrated, burned alive, choked, and shot as victims of America’s structural racism. Reclamation is the process of claiming something back or of reasserting a right; getting something back that was previously thought of as waste; reclaiming legacy. The African presence permeates Richmond and most places, and we are here. African drums, specifically, on Saturday, of the Mandingo’s djembe orchestra, embody the enduring spirit of the people, sending out high, universal vibrations that energetically create empowerment, unity, and optimism.