'Bench by the Road' tribute to slavesAuthor attends Sullivan's Is. dedication to honor Africans brought through the Middle Passage By Dottie Ashley (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Tyrone Walker Author Toni Morrison takes a moment to herself Saturday as she rests on the bench placed by the Bench by Road Project at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island. The bench is dedicated to enslaved Africans. Video
The Toni Morrison Society's Bench by the Road Project places the first bench Saturday, July 26, 2008 at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island. Watch » Carrying opened yellow umbrellas, a large crowd filled the dock Saturday at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island, swaying to the rhythm of the Adande Drummers. On this humid day, more than 300 years after the first boat carrying newly enslaved Africans crossed the Atlantic Ocean and delivered its human cargo barely a mile away, the mood was upbeat but also bittersweet. When strains of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" burst from the crowd, the melody set the stage for writer Toni Morrison, 77, the first black to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, to come forth and toss a wreath made of yellow daisies into the cove's waters. This was the Maafa ceremony in remembrance of those 60 million souls torn from their homeland and their loved ones, and brought into a life of pain and misery, and it was also for those who never made it. As the wreath floated from sight, a black steel bench, a more tangible symbol of remembrance, was set in cement overlooking the cove in a ceremony called "The Bench by the Road." Placed and maintained by the National Park Service, the bench provides a place to sit and recall the travails of ancestors in a spot where 40 percent of all those who survived the Middle Passage set foot on the North American continent for the first time. Both ceremonies were outreach programs of the Fifth Biennial Conference of the Toni Morrison Society, an international organization hosted by the College of Charleston for four days last week. Carolyn Denard of Brown Uni versity,president of the Toni Morrison Society, said the idea for the bench project came from Morrison's remarks in an interview about her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "Beloved." In that 1989 interview, Morrison said: "There is no place you or I can go, to think about or not think about, to summon the presences of or recollect the absences of slaves ... no wall, or park, or skyscraper lobby. ... There's no 300-foot tower, no small bench by the road that I can visit or you can visit. ... And because such a place doesn't exist ... the book had to." Michael Allen of the National Park Service and coordinator of the Gullah and Geechee heritage Division there, told the crowd gathered under a tent that Sullivan's Island was where four "Pest Houses," were built 1708-99 to quarantine slaves so they would not pass on diseases from Africa. The Bench by the Road is a 6-foot-long structure with a small bronze plaque mounted on its back. The bench, to be secured by the National Park Service at Fort Moultrie, will be accessible to all who wish to visit it. Over the next five years, the society plans to mark 10 of these sites, calling attention to their meanings in Morrison's novels. Despite the strides made in black-white relations, much needs to be changed, Kokahvah Zauditu-Selassie, a professor at Coppin State University in Baltimore, told the crowd on the dock: The past "is a great disaster we must always remember, Africans forced into the holds of ships. But even now, we see a day-to-day process of brutalization and humiliation. But now we reclaim this space, just as we reclaim our literature, our dances and our connection to nature." The bench ceremony also brought cultures together. Satomi Inoue of Kobe, Japan, an English teacher and Morrison Society member, said, "Slavery is a foreign subject to me, but I love the writing of Toni Morrison." Charles Duell, president of the Middleton Place Foundation, had brought a copy of the book "Beyond the Fields" about slavery at Middleton Place Plantation, which he was going to give to Morrison. Society member and actress Phylicia Rashad, the first black actress to win a Tony Award, said how fortunate she felt to be giving a tribute to Morrison Saturday night at a banquet celebrating the 15th anniversary of the society. Prior to sitting on the 6-foot bench, Morrison stood by it, facing the crowd and said, "This is so exciting and extremely moving. I'm delighted to be the first to sit on one of the first places 'to be by the side of the road.' " Sponsored by the International Literary Society, the Morrison Society has about 600 members representing 12 countries. The Sixth Morrison Society Biennial will be held in 2010 in Paris. Reach Dottie Ashley at dashley@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 22 comment(s)
Posted by lexylady on July 27, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am so damn sick and tired of this race crap crammed down our throats every day of my life. It is what is drilled into their heads every day, and as bad as it may have been, it was over 300 years ago, and I had nothing to do with it. It is simply an excuse, and I might add most of what they think they know are lies. There is a lot of money to be made on those lies and it keeps racism alive, and others rich! Nothing will ever change, I am sorry to say!
Posted by Diamondhead on July 27, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I’m glad I’m not from this part of the country but even if I were I still wouldn‘t be able to relate to any of this. How can people living today be responsible for something that happen a long time ago? My connection with the past is to learn from it, not be part of it or exploit it for personal gain. People’s knowledge and personal history start from the day they were born so anything prior to that is someone else’s burden. This concept of the white man’s guilt would suggest that slavery was racial when it was clearly noted in a previous article it wasn‘t. Slavery was an institution and it was practice by every culture on this planet at one time or another. Every civilization and culture has it’s greatness and short comings and United States is no different from any other country in the course of human events. If we are allow to study civilizations and compare the positive contributions to the negative, then this country would be far ahead than any other culture or nation on this planet. The problem with that, it wouldn’t be political correct for the hate America crowd.
Posted by MRSCVS on July 27, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is an accolade to the past.
Let's commemorate it without the acrimony toward each other when it is all said and done we all BLEED THE SAME COLOR OF BLOOD.
We celebrate just about everything else why not this????
GD ALL!
Posted by jeff61 on July 27, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am just trying to make a connection between slavery and a bench?
Posted by beth1070 on July 27, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yea...I have to agree with Jeff....how does something that you sit your fat azz on honor anyone? I see it more as a sign of disrespect than respect. JMO
Posted by jeff61 on July 27, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's a good point Beth. I am just curious how the creater of this choose a bench for this purpose.
Posted by jravenel on July 27, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To all who say "forget and move on"... I say that I can not forget and move on, in order to move on I MUST remember. We need to learn from our past in order NOT to make the same mistakes again... All cultures have their past.. Do we ask the Jews to forget the HOLOCAUST or the Indians or anyone else for that matter?... NO!.. we do not, then why ask me? I would not be an American, if not for slavery... NOR would there be an America! (which I love dearly),... So, to all who say forget .. I say eat stuff and die! Take a look at today's article "Selling Slavery" in today's, (7-27-08), Post & Courier by Kyle Stock. I applaud all who help us, (Black and White), to remember... Read, Remember and Learn.
Great-Granddaddy, Jeroid, Charleston,SC
Posted by jravenel on July 27, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The "bench" is a symbolic reference taken from a speech given by the first black nobel peace prize winner Toni Morrison in reference to her book.. "Beloved"... Please people... READ MORE...Carolyn Denard of Brown Uni versity,president of the Toni Morrison Society, said the idea for the bench project came from Morrison's remarks in an interview about her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "Beloved."
In that 1989 interview, Morrison said: "There is no place you or I can go, to think about or not think about, to summon the presences of or recollect the absences of slaves ... no wall, or park, or skyscraper lobby. ... There's no 300-foot tower, NO SMALL BENCH BY THE ROAD that I can visit or you can visit. ... And because such a place doesn't exist ... the book had to."
Posted by jeff61 on July 27, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not asking to forget and move on. I am just asking the use of a bench and the thought to use one.
Posted by Roger1978 on July 27, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you ever have the inclination take a look at a Charleston Year Book from the late 1800's/early 1900's. This isn't a school book but a compilation of information about Charleston and it's history. There is also a register of slave ships which entered the harbor during the slave trade. If you look at the ships home ports you may find something very interesting, only a very small number are from southern ports the rest are all from the north, NY, Boston, etc. As a Charlestonian who had nothing to do with slavery, who went to a predominantly black high school where I was called racist names regularly, I would appreciate it if some of the "blame" for slavery would be publicly placed on our yankee friends to the north who also reaped the benefits of the slave trade so long ago.
Posted by kerwin1959 on July 27, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jravenel, I agree with part of your statement, however, the offspring of the survivors and victims of the Holocaust don't carry a chip on their shoulder that consumes every minute of every hour of every day. Few Jewish people consistently blame every bad thing that happens in their lives on people of German descent, and the Holocaust was only 70+ years ago. Not 300. America is in the 21st century, not the 18th.
P.S. My family didn't own slaves.
Posted by spyderco on July 27, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Do we ask the Jews to forget the HOLOCAUST or the Indians or anyone else for that matter?... NO!.. we do not, then why ask me?"
No you are right we don't ask them to move on and forget about it, but then again their ancestors are all sitting around trying to capitalize on it either. Slaves were captured in Africa by their OWN people, sold by their OWN people and owned by their OWN people, which by the way is still going on today in Africa. Less than 25% of all slaves brought from Africa were sent to America the rest went to South America and the Caribbean islands. Was this a bad time in History, of course but you cant compare what happened to slaves to what happened to the American Indian and the Jews of the Holocaust. These are nations of people that were hunted and wiped out, compare the numbers of Slaves murdered to the Indians and or Jews and see where there is no comparison and before you ask I am part Indian.
Posted by jeff61 on July 27, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In that 1989 interview, Morrison said: "There is no place you or I can go, to think about or not think about, to summon the presences of or recollect the absences of slaves ... no wall, or park, or skyscraper lobby. ... There's no 300-foot tower,
Now I am just asking here.... but are the plantations that still exists symbols of slaverly. Do those place not mention salverly and maintian the history of Salverly. I don't think those places ignore it or sweep it under the rug. Maybe not the symbol desired but they are reminders???
Just asking..Again even though the bench was mentioned in a interview,, I still wonder why a bench??
Posted by I_Love_d_Peninsula on July 27, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jeff61: It is your reading comprehension, rather the lack there of that is so humorous!
The Boone plantations' are places to visit to showcase,for profit,how those days were.
The bench is a memorial to the Africans that were kidnapped and brought to the U.S via Sullivans Island. This "bench" pays homage to them and the ones that never made it. (they died in route) It is a reflection bench. But why do you ask? you could really care less about this,nothing will satisfy you and the other ignorant people that post hateful views on this site and harbor in your hearts.
Please stay ignorant, because I am so tired of trying to dispel all of the racist crap you people spew about Black people.
And to the other ignoramus who said Blacks have a chip on their shoulder,
This is my only comment/caveat.
If ever anyone of you people ever talk to me in a manner that is disrespectful to my face, because you cowards love posting your,vitriol hatred online, nameless, faceless sissies,
you will see what kind of chip I have on my shoulder.
Thank you Ms. Toni Morrison. Thank You.
Posted by Diamondhead on July 27, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jeff, here’s my take on the bench.
The bench is a spiritual connection to the past. It’s like a time portal, wormhole or space continuum except it doesn’t physically take you there but on a spiritually plane it puts you into a state of mind. Slaves are definitely victims of the Annabelle South and the segregation that followed for the free slaves. Clearly anyone born today is not victims of slavery or for the a majority segregation unless it’s self imposed. To achieve victim status and one must feel and connect with slavery. This can be achieve by sitting on the bench. After sitting on the bench and making that connection, you can come away hating whitey even though it was white Christians that started a movement to end slavery. Let’s not worry about small details in history that would screw up the moment. The bench is all about victim hood and to achieve victim status in today’s world one must make a connection with the past.
Posted by I_Love_d_Peninsula on July 27, 2008 at 6:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
RW:
I love and live in South Carolina,I am what some of you silly people would call, a DAMN YANKEE and you know what I mean, Nevertherless, I am trying to make a difference in this world in the most positive manner for my children and yours.
BTW: I don't support what the NAACP is doing in regards to the boycott and the flag debacle.
Fly the Confederate flag, at a Memorial or Museum, or on private property.
I respect the hundreds of thousands people that gave their lives fighting for that flag and they should be honored in a dignified manner as well.
That notwithstanding,
Today, in America,we fly the American flag and no other flag PERIOD.
Also RW:
Did you ever conduct any independent research on Africa? Most people who want the real causes and answers for situations usually conduct independent observations to find out the core of the undermining circumstances before they comment favorably or not.
Thanks.
Posted by jeff61 on July 27, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OK,,, as I thought. I ask a question to gain insight on this subject and that is the response I get. I understand what the plantion are used for today but do they not also explained the resaon they were able to exsist. That was my point. But some are so quick to turn it to something else.
It is no wonder many people don't care or want to care. Yes Yes I think I will stay ignorant and will only subscribe to what I was taught and make know further attempt to ask questions to learn more. Your such a credit.
Thank you Diamondhead for making the best attempt to explain the bench. Your explaination makes sense in the light you explained it in.
Posted by beth1070 on July 27, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I had a professor in college who was from a western African country (I can't remember which one) but from his description it sounded like one of those countries you read about in National Geographic. When he was a teenager he became friends with some Christian missionaries from Europe and ended up going back to the UK with them, was educated at Cambridge University then moved to the US to teach. He is truly one of the most interesting individuals I have ever known in my life. But he was also one of the most racist individuals I have ever met, not towards white people, but towards black people. He would not allow anyone in his classroom to refer to themselves as "African-Americans" unless they had in fact moved to the US from Africa and become an American citizen. He was very quick to tell his black students that most of them would not survive overnight in the part of Africa that he came from. And that he himself was no longer welcome there (not even by his own parents) once he left his tribe to go to Europe for an education.
Not really trying to make any point with this, just wanted to share it.
Posted by Diamondhead on July 27, 2008 at 11:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
beth...
I wouldn’t called your professor a racist. A racist is a person who holds a prejudice viewpoint of another person base solely on that person’s skin color. What you experience is pretty much a cultural conflict between the 2 cultures. His culture, education, and his world experience was different of that of the Black Americans and could very well be in conflict.
In the 20th century the Africa continent had made some painful transitions from European colonialism to socialism. As we all know with the exception of liberals, socialism is a complete failure in meeting the needs of the people. Hopefully in this century they will make the transition to the rule of law, securing property rights, encouraging the free enterprise system, and establishing constitutional republics with free elections.
Posted by jravenel on July 28, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hello ALL.... I'm glad to see the many different opinions that was generated and wanted all to know that I wasn't trying to promote racism or it's by-products... my goal was to enlighten and educate... and that can only be accomplished via written or spoken communication...I have HATE for no one, and only want for this country to be as ONE...may we all live in peace and harmony as ONE... after all... we're ALL AMERICANS...black, red, white... etc., so lets act like it and allow each and everyone their right to express themselves...long as they don't get stupid about it....
Love to all.... JRavenel
Posted by sheeple on July 28, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"The bench is dedicated to enslaved Africans."
Misleading caption. I thought someone was finally noticing the millions of black Africans CURRENTLY ENSLAVED--yes, in the 21st century, as I type this--by Arabs throughout Africa and the Middle East. Naive of me.
Posted by spyderco on July 28, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Slavery in North America differed significantly from slavery in the rest of the Americas. In the first place, far fewer slaves were brought into what became the United States, only around 500,000 compared to perhaps 12 to 13 million imported into the Caribbean and South and Central America."
Taken from the same site you decided to quote on how many slaves came to north America. Don't skew the facts to make it look as though 12-15 million were slaves in the US. If you read what I said, it was less then 25% of ALL slaves that came to America. But if you want to split hairs it should have read North America. (http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/history/......)
Take a little time to read before you post next time. And what exactly was your point about the amount of people killed during the Holocaust? That only a mere 5.9 million Jews died or what? Were they not hunted down and murdered in masses just because of who they were? Now I do concede that I did say wiped out and that is obviously not true for that I misspoke. But take a little of what you posted at the end for yourself.