Thursday, April 24, 2014
Loving Lupita!
I just love Lupita Nyong'o. She is beautiful, poised, stylish and talented, and has captured hearts all over the world. Born in Mexico and of Kenyan descent, she's spoken of a time when she didn't feel very beautiful because of the color of her skin. I'm sure she never imagined that one day she, with her gorgeous brown skin, would grace the cover of People magazine for having been named their "Most Beautiful Person for 2014". It is an honor of which she is very deserving, not just because of her obvious visual appeal, but also because she is so very gracious, and that, I feel, outshines anything else. She is the type of role model that our young girls, particularly our girls of color, need to see in the media. A bright star, shining from the inside out. Congratulations, Lupita!
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Kunta Kinteh Island, The Gambia
In November of last year I visited Kunta Kinteh Island, formerly known as James Island, in The Gambia, West Africa. This tiny island is located on the Gambia River, and is steeped with
heartbreaking history of the slave trade. The island became infamous with Roots, the late author, Alex Haley's book and miniseries, which is a powerful and emotional account of his ancestors' journey from Africa to America as slaves.
We traveled to the island via a short boat ride from the village of Juffureh.
Once we arrived on the island our guide gave an excellent presentation on the history of the slave trade from there to America, and told us about the structures that remain on the island from that time.
The island's size has been steadily decreasing due to erosion, but the ruins that remain tell a chilling story. At one point I was affected physically, feeling sick to my stomach. Now, I may not have thought much of it since several people on the trip had a bout of stomach issues while we were on the continent, but several others commented that a similar feeling swept over them as well while we were on the island. As if that wasn't strange enough, as soon as we returned to Juffureh, my queasiness disappeared. It definitely made me even more sensitive to the horrendous and sickening crimes against humanity that took place there many years ago.
This place is a haunting but significant piece of history, and should definitely be on your list of places to see if you're visiting the country. Without question, it was an experience I will never forget.
We traveled to the island via a short boat ride from the village of Juffureh.
 |
| Photo by Sharon A. Keyser-Jackson |
 |
| Photo by Sharon A. Keyser-Jackson |
 |
| Photo by Sharon A. Keyser-Jackson |
Once we arrived on the island our guide gave an excellent presentation on the history of the slave trade from there to America, and told us about the structures that remain on the island from that time.
 |
| Photo by Sharon A. Keyser-Jackson |
The island's size has been steadily decreasing due to erosion, but the ruins that remain tell a chilling story. At one point I was affected physically, feeling sick to my stomach. Now, I may not have thought much of it since several people on the trip had a bout of stomach issues while we were on the continent, but several others commented that a similar feeling swept over them as well while we were on the island. As if that wasn't strange enough, as soon as we returned to Juffureh, my queasiness disappeared. It definitely made me even more sensitive to the horrendous and sickening crimes against humanity that took place there many years ago.
 |
| Photo by Sharon A. Keyser-Jackson |
 |
| Photo by Sharon A. Keyser-Jackson |
 |
| Photo by Sharon A. Keyser-Jackson |
 |
| Photo by Sharon A. Keyser-Jackson |
This place is a haunting but significant piece of history, and should definitely be on your list of places to see if you're visiting the country. Without question, it was an experience I will never forget.
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