Professor Mack's lecture expanded my knowledge on the life of early African slaves within colonial America. His talk touched upon the fact that the captive African slaves still practiced traditions and customs from their homeland. One important aspect still continued was African burial rites. The unearthing of graves within New York's African Burial Ground showed various relics and items buried with the dead. Also Professor Mack pointed out that examination of the teeth and bones of the dead gave clues to their daily lives. The pattern of teeth filing revealed the tribe, age, and origin of the many buried. The professor pointed out that young women were typically assigned to hard labor that damaged their muscle tissue and skeleton. The routine lifting of a hundred pounds took a toll on many and made me appreciate the fact that I do not work in hard labor. Overall his presentation introduced me to a depth of early African slaves that is not usually discussed. One instance is that many Africans did not view themselves as slaves or as "property" but as being held captive in a new land. This shows the resilience and mental state that the early Africans arrived with to the colonies.
My overall impression of the project is positive. I believe the involvement of Howard University was essential in leading the research on the New York African Burial Ground. I believe this institution was chosen because of its vast resources and knowledgeable staff that could properly examine the remains. I do not believe other institutions could have taken the quality time and safety in analyzing our ancestors' remains. Though it is an unfortunate situation surrounding the African Burial Ground, it is encouraging to know that care was taken to preserve the dignity of the dead. The symbolism of unity that the monument stands for inspires to me to continue the University's legacy in pursuing and transforming academic knowledge that will benefit the community.
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