Shallow to pensive. The trip to the African Burial Ground completely transformed my mood.

“Okay guys, you are about to enter a Federal Building, so this will be a lot like the security check at the airport.” Huh? Where am I?

Laughter dominated my experience at the security checkpoint. From the secondary screening to the suspicious cat “personal safety” key-chain in my backpack. Everything was funny in that moment. Then, I entered the African Burial Ground visitor center and looked up at the words of Maya Angelou.

“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.”

And just like that, I was consumed by the story of the sacred ground I was standing on. Agh. Below my feet.

In the center was a depiction of the burial process. How can I describe? Tradition, honor, love, family, community.

Throughout the rest of the visitor center are exhibits, many of them interactive. All of them aesthetically pleasing. Well-designed. They detail a tragic history yet incredible tradition of African slaves in New Amsterdam, and the rediscovery of their sacred burial ground hundreds of years later…this is a story characterized by archeological discovery, a reminder of the past, community outrage and activism, empowerment, reburial with honor, and lesson for the future.

A question: What does the African Burial Ground mean to you? The wall is covered in children’s responses. I take a moment to write my own.

The film. The twenty-minute film reiterated what I had just read (in disbelief) inside the exhibit.

I came out of the visitor center reeling. Why am I just learning about this? How many times have I been taught about US History?…about slavery in this country? And yet, no one ever mentioned the African Burial Ground only a short distance away.

Outside: skyscrapers. office buildings. a chill. a beautiful outdoor memorial. a resting ground. Loud and quiet. How? The noise of the city is muted by this profound structure.

I really appreciated how the surrounding building was reflected in the memorial. Very beautiful.

The Ancestral Liberation Chamber. Echoes. The Circle of the Diaspora. Emphasis on the complex African culture…diversity of symbols. Cold. Beautiful. Architectural masterpiece.