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On the 6th of July the Amistad crew and students went on a field trip to Preston in Halifax, which once use to be named ‘Africville’. Black people had arrived in Halifax, Canada 150 years ago and the government kicked them out to the suburbs leaving them with little to survive on. So as part of our project was to study the history and story of Nova Scotia it was important for us to visit Preston.
Halifax has a lot to say for its self. As we were parked in the Harbour for around four days, exploring down town Halifax was quite interesting, compared to all the other ports we had visited. (Mystic seaport, Newport and Providence They all seemed so UN muliti cultral and people in the community would stare at a black face (me) every two hours. I found it quite an odd place to be. But Halifax seemed to be different, even though there was a great percentage of separation in the city; Halifax seemed more diverse than any other port we had visited. It was diverse meaning; they had some black, white, Asian, Greek, Lebanese and other races. Most black people lived on the far side of Halifax, which was named earlier as Preston.
On the way to Preston I was very excited because every port we had visited I would always ask, where are all the black people? Where do they live? Where do they hang out at night? What are they doing with themselves? Are they surviving? And are they happy?
The first place we visited was a small park in Preston that once use to be a settlement of black people, where they were forced out of their homes so that the government could build this park to make the city look more advertising. There was a memorial tucked inside the park where it was unnoticeable but had the date 1880 and a list of names of all those that live on the land at the time. When I saw this my reactions were, why is that every time, they are trying to hide the faces of Black people? Why can’t they just give black people a break and let them is free?
We were on our way to The Black Cultural museum in Preston but before reaching we were taken on a mini tour of Preston. As we were on our way, I had been excited to find out where they lived and put the black people, when I saw the houses they lived in, I was devastated, most of they houses were cramped together, there were baggers on the streets and people poorly dressed. As we went further into Preston, it felt like we were driving through the countryside, we went up this long stretch road for about seven minutes and as I looked around all I could see was the green. It was beautiful, but where were we going? When we arrived I felt like I was on one of those small islands in the Caribbean, where most of the roads were undeveloped, the houses were just dotted here and there, the houses were far from the main shops and I was told that the government had just put in a bus system like last month. This really saddened me, because black people didn’t need to be treated this way. We are living in 2007 not 1907, why can’t people just allow black people to be free? Why have us black people always got to fight for what they want, a voice, all we want is equality. Its upsetting to see that black people STILL have to fight for a voice and still get treated like dogs, not as slaves but with class. After visiting Preston, and learning all about the history of Black people in the states I feel like I can really understand why blacks have so much pain in their hearts, so much hatred and why there is so much segregation. My question is; Are we free? Are you free?
I only ask that we be free in our minds and if you can do that, you can be free in all things, and no matter how much other races may turn you away, or put you down, at least you can stand up for yourself and have faith in yourself because you are free. No one can tell you otherwise. Stand for what you believe in.
On the 7th of July we set off for London, within the first hour we started to experience heavy/ big waves, it was beautiful but the boat was splashing and sawing all over the place, it was not what we were use to, as we had been in land for the last few days, so getting back on the water was interesting. That day, a good number of people were sick and the boat turned into a hospital for sick people rather than a sailing experience. After I had my dinner I had this feeling that I was going to throw up but didn’t want to think about it too much or talk myself into it. So during my watch I had to check the engine room to make sure it was still running and safe. When I had gotten down there, it was hot, my stomach started turning and with in 15 minutes puke, was in my mouth and bursting to come out. I put my hand on my mouth to stop it and tried to run as fast as I could up the stairs. By the time I’d made the exit my head was popping out the door and I was sick everywhere. It was grouse, but after I had done that, I got help cleaning it up and carried on with my check. After that, it was raining and groggy, at around 3am the fire alarm went off and there was smoke in the Galley. A perfect time for a fire, in the rain, in the cold and in the early morning. It was quite exciting but all I wanted to do was sleep.
Moving into the 8th of July, we stopped in Sambro Harbour where we are just waiting on a part for the boat of some sort and the we can set sail. With regards to the journey, I really just want to get going and make it home. People on the boat have gotten on my tether but we are all to stick it out and actually make it as a team. I am feeling slightly better than I was two days ago. I don’t know what the rest of the journey will be like but I’ll let you know in due time.
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