Middle Passage

Dear Family, Our history is an interwoven fabric of incredible journeys and experiences, each thread contributing to the strength and resilience that we embody today. One of the most challenging parts of our shared past is our ancestors’ harrowing journey across the Atlantic, a journey known as the Middle Passage. Enslaved in West Africa, our ancestors were captured and torn away from their homelands, their cultures, and their families. They were forced onto ships under unimaginably cruel conditions, setting sail on a journey that would forever change the course of their lives and the lives of their descendants – us. The conditions on these ships were truly inhumane. They were crammed into the ship’s hull, with barely enough room to sit up, let alone move. They endured poor ventilation, scarce food and water, and rampant disease. The journey could last several weeks to months, depending on the weather and the ship’s route. It was a test of physical, emotional, and mental endurance. Despite the pain, fear, and uncertainty, our ancestors found ways to resist and to preserve their humanity. Some engaged in rebellions aboard the ships, while others sustained their spirits through song, shared stories, and secretly practiced spiritual rituals. These acts of resistance and resilience attest to the extraordinary strength of our forebears, a strength that lives on in us. The Middle Passage was not just a physical journey, but a transformational one that shaped the contours of African diasporic communities in the Americas. Our ancestors, survivors of this brutal passage, were instrumental in shaping the cultural, social, and economic landscapes of their new homes. As we reflect on this painful chapter of our history, we pay homage to the strength and courage of our ancestors. Their spirit lives on in us and continues to shape our family’s narrative. Their resilience in the face of such hardship serves as a testament to our own ability to endure and overcome. In telling their story, we honor them, and we remind ourselves of the fortitude that runs in our veins. We remember, we acknowledge, and we pay tribute to our ancestors who survived the Middle Passage. Their story is our story, their strength is our strength, and their legacy is our legacy.