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Why We're Here
We Did Not Choose Our Past, But We Can Choose Our Future |
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(Right) of Clarke County, Virginia, and Katie Miller (left), whom Mary was given to, at the age of 5, as a Christmas present. Since Mary's great granddaughter Sheila sent us this picture, we have spent many quiet moments just pondering these two innocent little faces, and thinking about how both children would later be affected by the different cultural messages of self-worth that each would receive, as they grew up together.
It strikes us that this photo speaks powerfully about our mission here at the USF Africana Heritage Project, and Sheila has generously allowed us to feature her great grandmother, to speak as an ambassador to those of us in the present. We would like to foster an atmosphere of hearts sharing with other hearts, much as the two innocent souls in this picture did as they played happily together, unaware of the very different life experiences each of them would have. We in the present did not choose our past, but we can, and do, choose our present, and our future. How will we handle this moment, today, when our paths cross and our eyes meet? This is what we are in control of. Let us affect our personal circle of influence by living the change that we would like to see. There is an African proverb that speaks to the power of a grassroots groundswell: "Everyone brings a stone to the pile." That is the core purpose of this website, to build a "pile of stones" that will be a monument to all of those who lived through the experience of slavery. Please let us hear from YOU! Please click here to share your records. We will cherish them, and you. All the Best, The Crew at Africana Heritage |
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The USF Africana Heritage Project is Sponsored by the Africana Studies Department at the University of South Florida. Copyright 2005 The University of South Florida and The Africana Heritage Project. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. For more information, contact the Africana Heritage Project via e-mail . |
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