African Burial Ground by Michelle Harris

Our Freshman Seminar class went to visit the African Burial Ground in Manhattan, New York.  Usually, when you hear "school trip" to anywhere, the first judgement is that it will be something miserably boring, educational, and of no significant importance to you after that class.  However, after the experience of this trip, i left with a deeper sense of self that will always be of great significance to me.  Dr. Carr told us that the graves we were surrounded by were those of actual slaves.  The thought, better yet the privilege of being in the presence of those who fought so hard to give us as African Americans what we have today was an honor in itself.  To think and reflect on what our ancestors had to go through and endure fighting for what we have now is still overwhelming to me.  I remember in class, Dr. Carr first told us about how African Americans protested against a company of some sort that wanted to tear down land where African slave remains were found.  After seeing the graves of those who fought so hard for us for myself and feeling the spirit of their struggle, I am so thankful that the company was sued and the land was saved.  For someone to try to "mask" or attempt to "erase" even a piece of our history is truly an insult.  These people died fighting for what they could not live to see happen: Freedom.
     In a way I felt a complete sense of sorrow, and a slight sense of guilt.  People in my generation, including myself sometimes, do not appreciate the opportunities we have been given.  We lose our heritage, and alot of us are ignorant about our history but know everything about the insignificant "role models" including their history of the world today.  These people were the real role models.  Those graves in that museum belonged to people who literally died trying to pave the way of equal opportunity, and now that we have it, what are most of us doing with it?  Rather than supporting "ignorance" of today, I will spend more time learning more about my African roots.  I at least owe them that...