"They tried to bury us. They didn't know we were seeds."

   

In August of this year, it will mark 400 years since the arrival of enslaved Africans to the Virginia colony of 1619. While we have taken leaps and strides over these past 400 years, we can still feel the reminiscents of slavery till this day. For instance: Dr. Joy Degru speaks about "Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome", individuals are looking to understand the Willie Lynch letters, systematic oppression, and the piecing together of a lost identity. But despite the hardships we still face, those of us in the diaspora have made it our mission to not let our ancestor's pain be in vain.  But enough of my little tangent.  

So how will people be commemorating the 400th year?  

Recently, Ghana's President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, stated: "we have a sacred duty and an onerous responsibility to help restore the dignity and pride of the African." President Akufo-Addo felt that the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade was not only dehumanizing, but it was "one of the most unfortunate and barbaric episodes of human history." So as a form of healing, the President had dubbed 2019 as the "Year of Return" and which all Africans, descendants of Africa, and those who support the freedom, should come together and rejoice. It may sound simple, but it's a matter to remember and never allow for the atrocities of slavery to never occur again. Back in 2018, President Akufo-Addo had invited 13 Ghanian celebrities from America to return home and learn about their heritage. 

Now some, if not most of us, are not able to take on such a journey, but no matter where we may reside, just the simple act of paying tribute and remembering those who stood before us is fair enough.  

For the next post, I will explore another group and/or country, and see how they plan to pay tribute.