Beloved Ancestors,
I stood in those old dungeons of Ghana,
Where your tired backs pressed against cold stone.
I felt your fear in that dark, narrow space,
And I carry your pain in my beating heart.
By the river where you took your last bath,
I watched the water flow.
I thought of your hope as you stepped in that stream,
Not knowing what lay beyond its shining edge.
You were strong when the chains clinked around you,
You were brave when the world turned away.
Your voices rose in song by that riverbank,
Bringing light into the darkest day.
I honor you in every drop I pour on the earth,
In every word I speak of your courage and grace.
Your journey guides me down my own winding path,
And I hold your memory close in this sacred place.
Thank you for the strength you passed to me,
Thank you for the love that still flows like a river.
I carry you with me, always and forever,
My ancestors, my guardians, my endless light.
Going to the Cape Coast castle and the Slave river was such an unforgettable memory. The different emotions that were going through my body were unbearable. I am thankful I was able to experience this. I am passing the stories down to other people because everyone has the right to know what happened in the past. The past is why we are where we are today. WE ARE OUR ANCESTORS WILDEST DREAMS.
Thank you to WTIG for this amazing opportunity. I’m grateful for all the information I learned, all the people I met, and all the experiences I am able to share.
- Elsie Pontes, Grade 1 teacher, Boston Massachusetts