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Text: Sankofa
Transcript
TEXT: Sankofa
QUOTE: "You may bury me in the bottom of Manhattan. I will rise. My people will get me. I will rise out of the huts of history’s shame." — Maya Angelou, 2003
TEXT: The heart-shaped West African symbol called the Sankofa translates to “learn from the past to prepare for the future.” The Sankofa appears in many places at the African Burial Ground National Monument, reminding us that the 419 Africans and African descendants buried here so long ago have much to teach us. Scientific study of the human remains reveals that work was hard, life was short, and people often met a violent end. Yet these people were lovingly laid to rest by family and friends.Long neglected, overlain by two centuries of progress, the African Burial Ground reemerged in 1991 during construction of a federal office building. Widely regarded as one of the most important archeological finds of the 20th century, the rediscovery also sparked controversy. Protesters, outraged at the destruction of sacred ground, demanded that construction be halted. Local activism became a national effort to preserve the site and honor the contributions of New York’s first Africans. A traditional African burial ceremony took place in 2003, when all 419 human remains were reburied on the site. Established in 2006, African Burial Ground National Monument is a place to contemplate the spirit of the Sankofa. Obscure individuals from the past come alive again with the lessons of sacrifice, perseverance, respect, power of community, and the continual hope for a better future.
Description
TEXT: Sankofa QUOTE: "You may bury me in the bottom of Manhattan. I will rise. My people will get me. I will rise out of the huts of history’s shame." — Maya Angelou, 2003 TEXT: The heart-shaped West African symbol called the Sankofa translates to “learn from the past to prepare for the future.” The Sankofa appears in many places at the African Burial Ground National Monument, reminding us that the 419 Africans and African descendants buried here so long ago have much to teach us. Scientific study of the human remains reveals that work was hard, life was short, and people often met a violent end. Yet these people were lovingly laid to rest by family and friends.Long neglected, overlain by two centuries of progress, the African Burial Ground reemerged in 1991 during construction of a federal office building. Widely regarded as one of the most important archeological finds of the 20th century, the rediscovery also sparked controversy. Protesters, outraged at the destruction of sacred ground, demanded that construction be halted. Local activism became a national effort to preserve the site and honor the contributions of New York’s first Africans. A traditional African burial ceremony took place in 2003, when all 419 human remains were reburied on the site. Established in 2006, African Burial Ground National Monument is a place to contemplate the spirit of the Sankofa. Obscure individuals from the past come alive again with the lessons of sacrifice, perseverance, respect, power of community, and the continual hope for a better future.
Duration
1 minute, 45 seconds
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