I chose to spend time sailing on Amistad because it allows me the opportunity to talk about violence and racism with a variety of people. I want to understand further what drives people to be violent towards each other and oppressive. Individuals seem to have groups of people they consider "family" or the same. When do people decide that someone else is "other" enough to harm? How do individuals and groups heal from violence- physical and mental? How do groups break free from oppression? What are ways to do this besides violence? I love that the students, crew, and visitors to Amistad are interested in discussing these issues as well. It's really heartwarming to work with people who are compassionate and committed to fighting racism and finding solutions for constructive race relations. The Amistad, as a platform for talking about this, is, in itself, a vehicle for healing and realizations. I first began thinking about these issues when I was a sixteen years old, spending a summer in Israel. I discovered a country fraught with racial rifts and violence. We had first visited a concentration camp, and I had been blown away by the evidence of the pain, suffering and destruction that racism and the desire for control can cause.  This exploration planted a desire in me to see racism end and work towards solutions for peaceful coexistences between groups of people. The Amistad story is such an inspiration. It provides a framework for how two groups of people, fighting an overwhelming social evil, can work together for positive change. The Africans and Abolitionists were able to influence Americans and open their eyes to the horrors of the slave trade. Together, they were able to fight powerful forces in the US government that wanted to keep the Africans imprisoned in the name of slavery. It's a victory in human history of non-violent activism.  It was a very natural step for me to join the Amistad crew after College. I continued to follow my drive to find answers for why violence happens, and I took a position in Alaska at domestic violence sexual assault program for a year and a half. I learned a great deal there through reading and experience about the dynamics of violent relationships. The desires to control others and find security are major motivations for people to loose compassion for other human beings. At that position, I affirmed my belief that people can heal and recover from trauma. I witnessed so many beautiful people rebuild their lives and continued to love human beings despite the fact that others had hurt them in unspeakable ways. I rejoined Amistad for this leg from England to Sierra Leone because I wanted to get a sense of how people in other countries viewed the slave trade and current day race issues. How are people talking about racism internationally? How does the interpretation of history play into current race relations? Stay tuned for more blogs!
 

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