Our Black Museums Are Under Attack
RSVP for the 2025 International Freedom Conductor Awards
Xina Eiland is the founder of Xina PR, a recognized agency with authority in multicultural communications that leads with JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) principles for their clients. In this newsletter, Xina shares moments from her 25+ years in PR, tips to navigate the current media landscape, and thought leadership on culture from a PR perspective.
Dear Friends,
Our Black museums are under attack.
There’s an attempt to remove artifacts and history from several of the Smithsonian’s museums if they’re considered "woke," including those on slavery.
NBC News visited the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, and reported “At least 32 artifacts that were once on display have been removed. They include Harriet Tubman’s book of hymns filled with gospels that she is believed to have sung as she led enslaved people to freedom through the underground railroad.”
This cannot be ignored.
On September 27th, The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center also known as Freedom Center in Cincinnati is hosting their 2025 International Freedom Conductor Awards.
The fundraising event will help protect our Black museums, honor the lives of those who led others to freedom and champion those who are continuing the fight for justice today.
Two-time Emmy Award–winning journalist and storyteller Tamron Hall will lead guests through the unforgettable night. Music, storytelling and a spirit of celebration will fill the room, as we recognize this year's honorees:
Opal Lee, Grandmother of Juneteenth
Lonnie G. Bunch III, 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian and founding director of the Smithsonian’s NMAAHC
Isabel Wilkerson, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and best-selling author
John E. Pepper Jr., former CEO of the Freedom Center
Toni Morrison (posthumously), Nobel Prize-winning author
I warmly invite you to attend this night of history, courage and legacy. The call is urgent to preserve the stories of our ancestors that fuel our fight for justice today.
If you’re unable to attend, please share the event information with friends and family in or near Cincinnati, and consider making a donation to the Freedom Center.
September is International Underground Railroad Month
I can’t believe it’s already been a year since I worked with Ventris C. Gibson on promoting her Harriet Tubman coins. The Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coin program launched in January 2024 in partnership with the U.S. Mint. I was happy to come on board and help promote the coin to our communities. It was truly a rewarding experience.
Even though the U.S. Department of Mint no longer sells these coins, you can purchase the gold and silver coins at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati.
September is International Underground Railroad Month and is celebrated to honor and recognize the legacy of the Underground Railroad—a vast network of secret routes, safe houses, and courageous individuals who helped enslaved Africans escape to freedom. The “International” aspect highlights that the struggle for freedom and sanctuary extended beyond the borders of the United States, involving Canada, the UK, the Caribbean, and other regions that provided refuge and support.
The 1850 Fugitive Slave Act directly led to the need for sanctuary cities outside the U.S., as it made the entire country unsafe for freedom seekers. This is why international sanctuary cities in Canada, Britain, Ireland and the Caribbean, became so important in the history of the Underground Railroad.
We Celebrate International Underground Railroad Month to:
✊🏿Commemorate the bravery and resilience of freedom seekers and those who assisted them.
✊🏿Educate the public about the history and international scope of the Underground Railroad, including the critical roles played by sanctuary cities and abolitionist networks outside the U.S.
✊🏿Inspire ongoing conversations about freedom, justice, and the fight against oppression, drawing lessons from the past for present and future generations.
✊🏿Recognize the global cooperation and solidarity that contributed to the abolitionist movement and the broader struggle for human rights.
Today, visitors from across the world visit Maryland to tour the Underground Railroad sites, and museums like the Freedom Center in Cincinnati.
‼️Calling All My Folks Located in the DMV‼️
In honor of International Underground Railroad Month, I’m hosting a Book Talk on Thursday, September 18th, with John and Ananda Leeke to celebrate their newly released memoir, American Change Agent: American Change Agent: A Life & Legacy of Seeking Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion. RSVP today!
🍉Meet Garry “The Watermelon Man” Sessoms
For two weeks, Karen Hunter asked her audience to invite the Watermelon Man to her show. Initially, I didn’t see the angle and dismissed it as urban folklore. I thought, “How could a farmer be that famous just for watermelons?”
But I kept thinking about this Watermelon Man.
Soooo…in true PR fashion, I began researching and found he was located in Stafford, VA! I took an hour-long drive to find the Watermelon Man, Garry Sessoms.
It wasn’t hard to locate him. The line was wrapped around to purchase his delicious, organic watermelons. The best part about this humble man is that he is also a FARMER. I love supporting farmers at my local farmers market. Garry Sessoms carries fruits and vegetables such as pink watermelons, sour sop leaves, tomatoes and squash.
I contacted Karen’s producer while I was standing in line and he responded immediately, giving a show date and time. It was one of THE BEST interviews about business I’ve heard.
Check out the interview and if you’re in the Stafford, VA area, don’t miss out on the sweet opportunity to enjoy a ripe, perfectly picked watermelon.
💜💚🖤PR TIP: Sometimes the best stories aren't the ones we're trying to sell – they're the ones our contacts are actively seeking. When we shift from pushing our agenda to fulfilling their vision, magic happens.
Omi Bell is Reshaping The Way Corporations Practice Wellness with Boardrooms & Breathwork
Omi and I go way back. She’s always been someone devoted to helping the community excel. You may recognize her name from Black Girl Ventures (BGV). She founded the organization to help underrepresented and underfunded black-owned businesses increase their access to capital.
“We funded over 550 founders directly, but we supported and impacted over 20,000 people across about 64 countries. I traveled internationally teaching women about confidence, how to pitch and for women in tech, I taught them how to develop their pitches to think deeper about the technology they're building. And then that leads me into this new work. I was doing all that hardcore, hands down work, and had a “team no sleep” mindset. Then in 2022, I found myself hitting a wall. I decided to take a break.” - Omi Bell’s Her Agenda Interview
After a much-needed three-month sabbatical, Omi created Boardrooms & Breathwork to introduce breathwork to corporate spaces, entrepreneurs and conferences. She’s now certified in Yoga Nidra and has reimagined keynotes to introduce breathing practices.
She is still helping under-funded businesses gain capital through her Pull Up & Pitch Competitions in partnership with the Washington Mystics, where under-resourced founders, small business owners and entrepreneurs shoot their shot with 60-second pitches to access up to $30,000 in collective prizes to grow their businesses on the spot.
💜💚🖤 PR Tip: Since we began working together, Omi has landed FOUR media placements. Sometimes it is best to hear where your client wants to be placed. Omi asked for op-ed placements and that is what we went after. Ask and you shall receive.
Still haven’t gotten your tickets yet? Help preserve our Black museums. On September 27th, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is hosting their 2025 International Freedom Conductor Awards centered around saving our Black museums and preserving the legacies of our ancestors. Get your tickets to experience an unforgettable night of justice, culture and courage.
Summertime Exploration: The Slave Mart Museum in Charleston, SC
This summer, I visited five powerful Black History museums:
The Civil Rights Museum in Birmingham, Alabama
The Social Justice Institute in Montgomery, Alabama
The Freedom Center in Cincinnati
The Slave Mart Museum in Charleston, South Carolina
The International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina
Over the next few newsletters, I'll share my reflections on each of these important institutions. I encourage you to visit these museums yourself—authentic Black history is American history, and these spaces preserve and share stories that belong to all of us.
Still have your book sitting in draft mode? My friend MeiMei created Your Bestselling Book, a program to help accelerate your vision of writing a book to becoming a PUBLISHED AUTHOR. Her next cohort will be from September 29 - November 21. Join the cohort today!
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