The TIES That Bind...Never Shall We Forget...Remembrance June 9, 2018

The Sankofa Projects' 7th Annual Sankofa Day of Remembrance at Buckroe Beach We gathered at the Waters edge... 442 human beings of diverse backgrounds, a myriad of hues, various histories and experiences...all sharing a common thread...a respect for those beloved Ancestors, the millions of Africans who perished on the Middle Passage and during the Transatlantic Enslavement Trade...we gathered to honor them. We circled our Tree of Remembrance, which had been cut down to a stump. Like the tree, we know just as the Africans were removed from Africa, transplanted to a new place, their roots remained intact, the roots remain strong. We, like the tree, with roots strong... we reached back and fetched our traditional African ways of drum, dance, pouring libations and placing flowers in the water to honor them. Beautiful expressions of song and dance, poetry and words on Domestic Violence and remarks from US congressman Bobby Scott, who has shown support of Remembrance the past two years filled the time and space. My work, for the past almost 3 decades has been rooted in giving voice to the untold stories and neglected narratives like that of the Middle Passage. June 9th, 2018 was a Day of Remembrance of the lives lost and for this untold history of what happened to the Africans who fought at the shores when the European traders arrived and those who never made it off the enslavement ships alive. My hand was raised showing the ascot of my beloved Father that I tied on my wrist. My father became an Ancestor on April 22nd and he was always by my side at Remembrance...and in life. I wore this scarf on my left wrist in Remembrance of him. Fist and Flowers raised for our beloveds and our continued Resistance against oppression, discrimination, racism and a disregard for HUMANITY. Remembrance was a beautiful coming together of our community acknowledging this painful past, celebrating our culture with hopes that we can eventually heal and move forward towards a better future. www.thesankofaprojects.blogspot.com