Wednesday, March 30, 2016

As I walk into the African Burial Ground, I am scanned by security. I understand that I am walking into a government building that holds great significance.

The first thing I notice is the timeline of the creation of the burial ground. It was a long process creating this building that reflects a bitter part of American history. The construction was halted many times and went through many rejections, controversy, and mistakes. This controversy was discussed in the video we watched. It discussed the uncovering of the remains of the African slaves in Manhattan and people’s desire to commemorate their ancestors who suffered. There was so much insensitivity and callousness from people who tried to halt such a project that honored the lives of people who made up 20% of the population in the 1700s and suffered so much with their lives unrecognized.

Understanding the horrors of slavery:

I find it amazing how much we can learn through the remains found at this site about how the slaves suffered. The museum brings the history and culture to life. The wax figures of those whose stories were shown in the movie, have the tortured and downtrodden expressions of the pain and suffering that must have come from being enslaved. The displays of the shackles and barrels that were used for slave labor drive the harsh realities of slavery into my mind.

The movie we watch further impresses on me the incomprehensible pain and suffering of a slave’s lifestyle: the way their childhoods were cut short, the violence, and the oppression they faced. Yet, despite the labor and restrictions, the blacks resisted the control and tried to bring forth their humanity, compassion, and respect for their community and way of life. They held on to their pride, which we saw in the movie, by the way they buried their dead.

It’s shaped American culture:

When I walk around, I feel like I am walking into the history of a culture. But when I look closer, I realize it’s not just the history of another culture, but it’s the history of American culture. I see what an impact the African slaves had in shaping America and the significance it played in building America into what it is today. “This is not Black history. This is American history. But this is American history that’s finally been told” (video). The slaves in the 1700s physically built up New York- “Slaves are colony builders”. They were a major labor force that made up about 20% of the population (shown on screen in museum).  But they also psychologically built up New York. They gave rise to the spirit of America and New York and the concept of liberty. On this topic of commemorating the slaves, Mayor Dinkins said “This is our Ellis Island” (video).

There is a billboard of notes that kids wrote on their impression of the burial ground. They describe the impact that the commemoration had on them. One of the notes strikes me. It reads: “to me it means to learn to appreciate all of the wonderful lives that we live, and to remember our yesterday so that our tomorrow is better.” It reminds me that all of this is not just history. It is still part of us and the struggle is still ongoing.

An era coming to life:

A quote on the wall says, “You may bury me in the bottom of Manhattan, I will rise. My people will get me. I will rise out of the huts of history’s shame.” Manhattan is built on the graves of these slaves, buried and forgotten until 1991.

We can’t ignore the bloody past. But we can look at it, delve into it, and respect it. We can commemorate the black slaves who suffered and we can learn from our bloody history to make a better future.

Quote at burial ground:

“For all those who were lost

For all those who were stolen

For all those who were left behind 

For all those who were not forgotten”

slideshow: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1cR-Xkvx3RjBiO4QflQPgotF_RoqKpHazhiKBiKDS2Gw/edit?usp=sharing