Today started off with a lengthy and quite bumpy ride. The bumpy part has become usual for the time that we’ve been here, but none of us have adjusted. After about 2-3 hours of sleeping, tossing, and window head hitting we arrived to our first encounter of the day: The Kakum Canopy Walk. As humans, it’s normal to program your mind to be frightened to try things that are presented to you as frightening. We spend moments of our lives being afraid to maneuver our way through varied exotic and one in a life time experiences. Well, today I tried something that I tried my best to program my mind and body to resist . “I survived the canopy walk!” Although, I didn’t put myself up to the double challenge and walk 7 bridges I did challenge myself to the shortcut consisting of 3 bridges . The bridges were at least 11-130 meters high. The thought of them being above the ground as much as they were was frightening, but we were shown that any falls would be caught by the surrounding nets. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any animals, but from a distance there was supposedly a monkey that required me to walk the 7 bridges which wasn’t on my attended agenda.
Next, and lastly for our activities of the day, we were given the privilege to tour Cape Coast Castle. A castle really it is not, it's a dungeon where people (our ancestors) were captured and sold into slavery all over the world. While analyzing the presentations that outfitted the castle, I learned a few things about the “Gold Coast” (known as Ghana).
Ghanians were captured and brought to Cape Coast Castle, and purchased on the auction block. The slave trade was said to have been established during the 1600’s and ended somewhere around the 1870’s. I must say, the environment of the castle was remarkably sentimental, but gracefully glorious. In the castle there were distinguished captive areas for women and for men with floors made of soil that is made up of human fecal matter, tears, blood and sweat. But outside the castle, you have a beautiful body of rushing water waves and the life of the most innovative Black People along selling crafts, fishing, and so much more. I was able to stretch my eyes abroad and see each and every detail as one. The authenticity is unreal and I am unable to put it all into words. Everything, everyday moves with life, hustle, creativity and grace.
Shatavia Portis
17 Years Old
Wilcox County, Alabama
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