A Poem: Ancestry

Song Dedication — New Slaves by Kanye West

 Sailing the same waters that my ancestors traveled on, the Atlantic Ocean was the path that took them away from their land.

Home.

Tribe.

Family.

Peace.

What is here now, was not here then. Not even Robben Island. 

The same waters Nelson Mandela traveled on when he traveled to serve his sentence at Robben Island. Same waters Winnie Nelson traveled on every few months to visit the man that she loved. The servant-leader that shifted the ideology to a free South Africa.

Sacrifice. 

The Atlantic Ocean has felt the pain of my people.

Scared.

Terrified.

Stripped.

Hope gone.

Rocky Waters confirm uncertainty. Brisk Air cracks skin. 

They were packed onto a ship and considered cargo, I can feel their anger.

When the waves of the water should hug you, the waves continued to push my family away from everything they knew. Every dream they met at night was taken away from them as they watched the mountains grow further apart. 

You hold on to your life. 

You hold on to the your memories. 

But your life is no longer guaranteed. 

And your memories begin to fade, losing identity and heritage. 

Families split. 

Men separated from their love. Woman and Child. 

Lineage on a path of distinction. 

The same waters my ancestors, who names remain unknown involuntary traveled to a place unimaginable — hundreds of years later.

I am here. 

Their bodies may rest at the bottom ocean but their spirits have never died. 

They must have wondered when they will touch land.

Where should new hope and dreams be birthed?

From the noise around me, I can sense that my experience on this ride to and from Robben Island is one of internal healing, understanding and meaning.

Silence is a gift— you can create your own silence when you allow your mind to visualize the horrific journey of ancestors who traveled months against free will. 

My 80 minute round trip only provides a narrow view of the account — Atlantic slave trade. You can hear the waters but I can not confirm if they are screams or laughter. Joy or Cries. 

No adequate nutrition or Health Care. Language Barriers. Motion Sickness and mental decapitation.

Skin to skin.

Flesh to Flesh.

Bone to Bone. 

I pay homage to those who encountered this unfortunate unjust circumstance. I thank them for their survival, lineage. 

Because of them. I am.

“Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from the ships, because they knew death was better than bondage.” 

-Killmonger Black Panther

 

Courtney Morris is a 2nd year Doctoral Student in Educational Leadership, her research focuses on Integrating Hip Hop Culture and Urban Education, as well as storytelling and using current events as teaching methods in the realm of Education. Courtney has a sub interest in leadership development among urban education and students of color, community development and mental health amongst black communities. Courtney obtained her Associates of Arts from Schoolcraft College, Bachelors of Science in Health Administration (concentration in Social Work), Masters of Arts in Higher Education/Student Affairs and Graduate Certification in Academic Advising. Feel Free to connect with Courtney via email at Connect@BeMentallyRich.com or via instagram at @MsCourtneyBrieAnn