Cape Coast

I’m endlessly proud of the power of our people. We’ve been weathering storms of colonization, racism, hate, and injustice for centuries, and still, we thrive. It’s one thing to make our way through this world merely surviving, but to do it with such a high level of excellence and grace is something uniquely Black. Time and time again, our human rights are infringed upon, and despite our excellence, this can leave some feeling powerless.  While the slave “castles” in Ghana are no magic utopia that will suddenly make all of your dreams and aspirations come to fruition, there’s a deep power in witnessing the resilience of our people up close. Walking throughout the dungeons —some of which still seem to have a bloody stench—and standing in cells where they were held captive let us know there is nothing we are incapable of conquering.  For an added reminder of who we truly are, book a tour that includes a traditional Ghanaian naming ceremony. An elder speaks reassuring words over you before renaming you by your soul name based on the day of the week you were born. Reclaiming the names stripped from us is a powerful reminder of who we’ve always been. The castles, like us, have been through the unbearable— but they’re still standing. They’re a physical reminder of our unshakeable place in the world.

As an African American, I'd like to reconnect with my roots by visiting a slave fort my ancestors may have passed through.