The African Burial Ground

Last week I went with the freshman seminar class to New York to see the African Burial ground which was in many ways breath taking. Before this freshman seminar class I never heard of this story and the findings of Africans beneath Manhattan. I find it so incredible how before people were just building and building on top of the ancestors without knowing. The findings of these African people are so essential and have made a vital contribution to the historical memory of this country. I cannot fault blacks for the protest they held, and wanting other black scholars to research the African people. When the debate aroused of who should be the ones to handle the ancestors, the people turned to Howard University. I think what the students at Howard did in recovering the bodies and placing them back into the ground was the greatest honor to the ancestors and I am proud to say that I am attending the school that helped make such a profound contribution to history. I connected deeply to the first part of the trip where we poured libations, paid respect to the ancestors. Africans are the ones who built this country and to be in the presence of those who made many sacrifices was moving and a very powerful moment. I think it so beautiful how after the research was done on them, the researchers put their bodies back into the ground and held a traditionally African burial for the ancestors. The only thing that I can say disappointed me was the fact that I wasn’t there to witness such a breakthrough in not only African history but American history as well. The trip to New York was such a remarkable cultural experience and the African Burial ground is a historical monument that should be visited by all.