Hello Readers,

Since I have been abroad in Ghana for a couple weeks a lot has happened. I have spoken Twi with the local Ghanaians, tried real Ghanaian food, and ridden a Tro Tro for the first time. But the most impactful thing that has happened since I have been here was when we all went to two trans-atlantic slave trade castles in Cape Coast.

One was the Elmina Castle and the other one was the Cape Coast Castle. Both of these castles created a lasting experience for me. Each one was guided by a tour guide through the history of what happened. Elmina Castle was very big and made an impact on all of us. The tour guide did a demonstration to show us what the conditions were like for the slaves. He showed us the difference between two prison cells. One was for the misbehaved and drunken guards of the castle. The door had lot of holes for ventilation and light and it even had a small window.

We were put inside to experience what it would have been like if we were a “drunken guards” locked up in this cell. He informed us that these guards would generally be put in there for a few hours at a time. Then the next prison cell that we stepped into was right next to it. There was a skull and cross bones above the door. The door was plain metal with very few holes and there were no windows. As he “locked” us inside, we quickly realized how different the two were from one another. This one had little sunlight and hardly any ventilation. It had a very strong odor of something unexplainable. It was very muggy inside and the heat was unbearable. The main difference was that strong slave men would be put in there if they were not obeying and they would be left in there until they died.

After a while the guards would look in the peep hole to see if there was any movement and then when they didn’t see any they would open up the doors and dispose of the bodies. This interaction really made my eyes – as well as my heart – open to all the slaves who had to endure the pain that was brought upon them while they were in the Elmina Castle, in addition to what they experienced after they went through the “door of no return.”

The “door of no return” is a symbol that meant once a slave went through that door they would not return to the castle. This door really put into perspective how awful and heart breaking it must have been to be someone who had to go through what the slaves went through from being brought to the castle, and then during the castle. And then to finally think about how awful their life must have been after they passed the “door of no return.”

It’s very sad to think about these times in history. However, I feel that it is important for everyone to learn about it in school and to even go and visit a castle if they get the chance to. Going to the Elmina castle and the Cape Coast site really helped me learn more about the trans-atlantic slave trade history. In addition, I think it’s very important that they continue to have memorials and days of remembrance for all the people who lost their lives due to the trans-atlantic slave trade. I want to encourage everyone to read about this time in our history because it’s important to know as an individual. I feel very lucky to have been able to experience these castles and the history that they bring to Ghana as well as America.

Thanks for reading,

Chantel