Remembering Ancestors

African American History, ancestors

For the first time in three years Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project has not scheduled a public remembrance ceremony for August 23rd. It feels strange. This year each person is on an individual, perhaps private, path of remembrance. The day remains the same: The International Day of Remembrance of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Its Abolition as declared by the United Nations. There are a number of activities Read More

Florida

African American History, African ethnic groups, Afro-Caribbeans, Afro-Latinos, ancestors, captured Africans, descendants of slaves, ethnic studies, Middle Passage, slave ports, slave ships, slavery, transatlantic slave trade

As the state with the nation’s longest history of documented African presence, the Project is interested in highlighting Florida’s Middle Passage sites. We intend to honor ancestors and highlight the influence of Africans and their descendants in developing Florida. This is not an easy task since those in power in a region long considered an outpost or frontier, traditionally supported a pattern of smuggling and unregulated business. Those who invested Read More

Worthless or Priceless

African American History, African Diaspora, ancestors, descendants of slaves, transatlantic slave trade

We need to put this on the table for your consideration: As we travel this nation’s Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, it is astounding to experience the initial hesitation and resistance within the Black community to honoring and remembering African ancestors. The response is across the board from all strata – social, cultural, economic, religious, educational. Conditioning over a 500-year period marked by enslavement and European dominance has made many of Read More

Both Sides

African Diaspora, African literature, ancestors, captured Africans, descendants of slaves, transatlantic slave trade

We are now in the season of departure and arrival (May-September), the season that marked the transatlantic trade in humans. It was a time when people were wrenched from their homes and communities, enslaved, forced to march to the coast, and endured the Middle Passage. They continuously confronted the unknown and the unimaginable. Ghanaian author Ama Ata Aidoo prescribes what descendants of those captured Africans and all others related to Read More

Living Proof

African American History, African Diaspora, ancestors, captured Africans, descendants of slaves, slavery, transatlantic slave trade

During our travels, MPCPMP board members frequently have conversations with people of African descent who express deep regret that because of the human trade we do not know who our ancestors were. They make comparisons between those of us in the Diaspora, and European and Asian people who can state their specific heritage. It is a great disservice to our progenitors if we feel that because they are unknown and Read More

American Histories

African American History, African Diaspora, ancestors, oral history

In the last post of 2012 and on this first day of Kwanza we encourage people to talk with elders, especially those in the family. What may be recorded and remembered will probably provide another historical viewpoint. For example, December 13th in the official US story is the day that George Washington died, first president of the republic and one of the founding fathers. For one family, however, it marks the Read More

Now or Never

African American History, African Diaspora, African ethnic groups, American legal system, American politics, ancestors, descendants of slaves, slave ports, slavery, transatlantic slave trade

Recently, during a conversation about the Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project, someone stated that we must move as quickly as possible to conduct memorial services for our ancestors and place markers at Middle Passage port sites, or their relevance will be lost for future generations. In 2013, many states will mark the 150th year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, which President Abraham Lincoln signed, legally releasing Read More

The Gathering at Fells Point

ancestors, descendants of slaves, Middle Passage, slave ports, slavery, transatlantic slave trade

There are moments in life when one tries to remember if there are many more important moments than the one that is being presently experienced. The 23rd of August 2012, was such a moment for most of us who gathered on the Broadway Pier at Fells Point in Baltimore. As dawn’s golden light spread across the water, voices, led by Reverend Cecil C. Gray accompanied by African drums and other Read More

Reflections

African Diaspora, ancestors, burial ceremonies, captured Africans, descendants of slaves, Middle Passage, slave ports, slavery, transatlantic slave trade

This week is so deeply personal for me that I am departing from our usual format on the blog postings. We think that not often in a lifetime is there an opportunity to be a part of something that we know is bigger than our individual self and immediate communities, but of course that is not true. There is the commitment to another person in a partnership, there is the Read More

Haiti: The First Black Republic in the Western Hemisphere

African American History, African American literature, African Diaspora, African ethnic groups, Afro-Caribbeans, Afro-Latinos, American politics, ancestors, slave ports, slavery

This small and beautiful nation is a text book case of the victim being blamed for the crimes/injustices perpetuated against it. The historic role of the United States in the deliberate destruction of this country is not completely known. Since the presidency of Thomas Jefferson until the 21st century the United States of America has repeatedly done everything in its power to destroy Haiti. Why? According to historian James Sidbury: Read More