Part I of III

Introduction:

This past weekend was too incredible, interesting and indescribable to fit into one entry that you will all actually pay attention to. So I’m going to break it up into three. I’d love to say they’ll all be posted by this weekend, but I refuse to make any promises. Part one will talk about Elmina Castle, my frustrations with the world, and some historical facts you may not know that may change how you look at things. These facts will be incorporated from what I am learning in classes (Yes, I am attending those here, for the record), as well. This entry will not be fun to read, but please do so anyway. Part two will talk about all the animals (this one IS fun)! Part three will recount the beauty of the ocean and a canopy walk through the rainforest, which should pique your interest, even if you’re going to skip the one about the animals (which you shouldn’t; it promises to be entertaining, at least). So. Bear with me and enjoy. As always, comments are welcome and appreciated, especially if you have ideas for posts, or if there are certain things you want to know about, feel free to let me know.

Part I

Elmina slave castle is on Cape Coast; Elmina means “The Mine”, because of the potential riches (gold) to be exported at this site. Exports turned from gold and goods to human beings. Portuguese, Dutch and English slave traders used this Castle as the largest of many outposts from which to hold and transport slaves to the West, mostly Brazil, the Caribbean and the United States. [Fact: 6% of Africans traded in the Atlantic Slave trade wound up in the United States.] Aesthetically, this is a beautiful structure. White washed walls, wood floors, overlooking a dark blue ocean, palm trees thriving in sandy beds by the water; there is nothing beautiful about Elmina, however. There is nothing pleasant about what happened in the confines of those whitewashed walls. Separate dungeons for men and women; both without windows for light or ventilation, not to mention the blatant lack of sanitation facilities. There was a minor trench along the edge of the dungeon wall for the human waste of hundreds of people. This was a chamber used to force survival of the fittest. Those without the ability or will to live through excruciating, humiliating and inhumane conditions died; starved; became infected with diseases of filth and malnutrition. Those that did survive were loaded like cargo into a ship to be sold as goods to purchasers across the ocean through a short narrow door called the Door of No Return.

           Words cannot do the inhumanity justice. Even walking on the ground these people sold into slavery stepped on, lived on, and died on could not do the inhumanity justice. 60 million Africans were sold as commodities during the slave trade. 20 million of them died before they reached the Castle, on the treacherous journeys from their homes to the coast. 20 more million would die before they reached the West. The slave trade existed for approximately 200 years – 60 million lives were lost; either to death or to enslavement. This is a sombering thought, something that is impossible to change, but nearly impossible to reckon with as well.

          Visiting the Castle was a lot to take in, a lot to think about; I encourage you to do research and find out more, although it isn’t a popular subject of history. Africans who were enslaved (using the word ‘slave’ applies their state of captivity to them as a person; while they were slaves, it is important to remember it was not their choice, and not their only identity) helped build the United States, although no one likes to admit it. Often our success is attributed to our isolation from potential attackers, raw materials for trade and expansive crop lands. Ommitted is the immense contribution that slave labor had in the development of this nation. Let’s think about how the wealthy entrepreneurs accumulated enough wealth to start the industrial revolution; it’s easy to get rich when you don’t have to pay workers. Did you know there is an African Burial Ground in New York City? I didn’t either, but there is - right under the financial district, stretching for acres and acres. Slave labor physically helped build New York City, a metropolis seen as one of the most progressive, liberal and opportunity-rich places in the world. Have you ever read about that in History text books? Have you ever been taught that slave labor was a primary reason for the economic success of the United States? Have we taught our children that the largest trans-Atlantic migration ever was the forced relocation of 60 million Africans? Have we taught them that this still goes on today? Slavery is not over. Child slave labor and human trafficking for labor and sex work still exist today, and companies and individuals are profiting. This isn’t easy to think about either. We want to say we would never let slavery happen again; but we do. People are sold into situations, stripped of their rights and exploited with our permission. We give permission by buying goods, by being complacent with a system that prosecutes and criminalizes people who are being trafficked.

Like I said. Not an easy day, and quite enough thinking for one blog post. I encourage you to ask questions, to read and research and find out what we can do today. Humanity is not something to be taken lightly. Regardless of the color of your skin, background, religion, ethnicity, sexuality or gender – you are a human being. We all are.