Many people on March 25th boarded a make-believe slave ship in Kingston Harbor, marking the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. The Melodians played, "By the Rivers of Babylon and Redemption Song. The ship circled the harbour for about half and hour, then it returned to port.
Rastafarians, who advocated for reparations for the descendants of slaves for many years, had the most dominant presence. Newell Morris, his princess lyata and her granddaughter we among them.
It was not just Jamaica that commemorated this day. Thousands also joined the Archbishop of Canterbury and York for solemn procession of remembrance to mark the bicentenary of Britain's abolition of the slave trade.
The "Walk of Witness,"led by Dr. Rowan Williams and Dr. John Sentamu through the streets of London follows the Church of Englands apology for its role in the slave trade, which the General Synod
The 'Walk of Witness' led by Dr Rowan Williams and Dr John Sentamu through the streets of London follows the Church of England's apology for its role in the slave trade, which the General Synod debated last year.
Addressing a rally in Kennington Park the Archbishop of Canterbury told more than 3,000 people, including foreign dignitaries and leaders of other churches: "The easiest thing in the world is to look back 200 years or 300 years and say we wouldn't have made those mistakes.
For more information on the events commemorating the slave trade see
http://africanhistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa080601a.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment