My God What A View ;
This
is where I cried…I did not wail or moan but softly shed tears because I knew.
I
knew that one of my ancestors was taken off a boat.
I
knew because I felt it deep down in my gut before reaching that place.
When my
feet touched the base of the hill. I knew.
My
aunt Carmena Taylor Morton told me years ago as a child that her great-grandfather
and my 4th great-grandfather Charles Dixon was as she said “from over there
across the water” meaning West Indies.
We
come this far by faith
We
had passed several forts and places where the tour guide talked of the slaves
who were bought there eons ago.
When
he mentioned Nigerians I was sorrowfully silent.
My
Ethnic Make-up tells me Nigerian among other things my mama and father blended
me with.
Ancestrydna
That wonderful and magnificent ancestral blend they were also blessed to have.
I always want to be sure that I know what I think I know so I tested again.
Ethnicity,
dominantly African
Strands and beads of Irish and of others who may have bought my ancestors to this place I call “I Knew.”
23&me
And
Again…..I know, I know, I just love this stuff.
Familytree
dna
My
feet touched down on the Island on the 9th day.
Pisces
symbolizes fish that swim in different directions.
Up
and down over the warmth of the crashing waves;
Oh Guide Me Over
Looming
under a dark cloud of despair.
Chained bound, salty tears
How
many of my ancestors were caught in that watery grave trying to go back from
whence they came?
The
tour guide told us that Fort Castillo
San Felipe del Morro is one of the backdrops used in the 1990 movie Amistad .
This
was where the slaves were bought to port and held for market.
Oh
Lord Hear My Cry
The
fort was in fact used to guard San Juan from sea bearing enemies in the early 1500’s.
So
majestic that it takes your breath from deep within and you slowly exhale.
He
that dwell in the secret place
I
did not make the trek to the top of the hill.
My reasoning then was the aches
and pains I already had and the long walk up.
As
I type my thoughts, I came to realize that it was not for me to make the trip
up the hill, nor take the trip back down.
He
that sustains me already knew
He Knew that If He wanted me to go, He would have shown
me the way.
He
Knew
12 comments:
Inspiringly reassuring confirming
I LOVE this!
Thanks so much for the comments
Thanks for taking us with you and for the deep revelation of our past. I felt myself living the first landing. Wow!
I love it! I felt the same way when I visited what was once Coushatta Plantation in Louisiana. You just know.
Thanks so much for sharing this part of your journey with us. It's an inspiring and heartfelt post...I know the ancestors were with you every step of the way.
Thanks Vicky - being so far away it is too easy to forget. The impact up close must be powerful indeed! Thanks for keeping us all - "up close"
I felt similar when I visited Fort Moultre in SC. And I kept taking those dna tests too!
I felt the same when I went to Richmond, VA and went down to the wharf were the cages, shackle holders, and slave blocks are still there as historic reminders. My heart was torn. Lord, I knew.
Thanks everyone for the comments. I still so far have not gotten image out of my mind.
Vicky, As I read this, I took this journey in my mind, feeling what you may have felt and I feel our ancestors have a way of letting us know things by making us feel what they felt and after it is said and done and their spirit are no longer restless, they tell us, "I home...now I can rest..!
Thanks for reading blog and commenting Pam. I would also agree with you about "our" ancestors. That is why we should always call their names. For those whose names are unknown we will try and try until we know their names.
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