Savages

They rounded them up and put them in barrels. Screams of savages filled the air. All Ani could remember were the pale fiends screaming weird words passionately. Somehow, these strange men had found where the kids were hidden. Something did not feel right, as only locals could navigate the rough terrain.

She knew this was the end for her and the other kids. No one knew what happened to those who disappeared in the past. The villagers knew it was better to hide and move from the area. At 12, she was the oldest in the pack. It was not time to grieve but be a leader and plan. She needed to figure out what to do if she reunited with others.

She could feel that the barrel had been picked and passed around. After a few minutes, it suddenly stopped, and everything was still. There were a couple of screams, and then it felt rocky like the waves of the sea. It hit Ani that she had been put in a giant weird boat bigger than the one her dad used when he was fishing. She hated the waves as they always made her sick. Remembering her father brought back bittersweet memories.

Everything was fine until he disappeared. Ani wondered if she would see him on the other side. It was one thing to hope for amidst all the sad things happening. Seeing Papa again was her silver lining on this stormy night. The night passed, and it was bright again. She knew this because those captured were brought on deck to wail their arms in weird, coordinated directions and serve punishment.

What Ani called punishment was actually exercise, and if she knew what was to come, she would have prayed for this type of punishment to all her gods. The captives were fed twice a day and then returned to their barrels. Time moved speedily, and finally, the boat stopped. They were at their final destination for this voyage. It was time for Ani to meet her new “guardians,” or better still, her masters.

Ani’s story is a mix of fiction, and the reality of enslaved Africans shipped down to the United States and several parts of the world. What started in 1619 would go on to affect a race generations later. 400 years later, the African American community is still trying to find solutions to the problems left behind by gentrification and segregation. Although slavery ended years back, the quest for racial equality is far from being over.

In February, Black History Month is celebrated. As much as we would like to quote the words of Martin Luther King Jr., let’s take time during this month and beyond to understand ways we unintentionally contribute to the challenges plaguing the African American Community. For example, what racial biases do you hold on to? What are some actions you excuse yourself on account of ignorance? It’s the 21st century, and a good number of us have access to the internet. It’s time to be intentional about the things we say and internalize.

Beyond that, feel free to put your money where your mouth is by supporting some of these organizations:

• NAACP

• NAACP Legal & Defense Fund

• Thurgood Marshall College Fund

• 100 Black Men of America

• ACLU Foundation

• The National Black Child Development Institute

• The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)