Barbados holds a profound and often overlooked truth - it was the first British colony built entirely for sugarcane production and slavery.

Established in 1627, Barbados quickly became the wealthiest colony in the British Empire, fueled by the labor of enslaved Africans toiling in the unforgiving heat of sugar plantations. The brutual system of chattel slavery - where people were treated as property for life - became perfected in Barbados, and served as a model for slavery throughout the Americas, including the United States.​ Newton Slave Burial Ground is the largest known cemetary for enslaved Africans in the Western Hemisphere. It is also one of the most sacred yet rarely spoken-about sites on the island.

During this moment of reverence, we will acknowledge the strength of all of our relations who endured unimaginiable hardship. We will also honor them for not only innovating, but passing down empowering traditions, soulful music, enduring spirituality, and a legacy of survival to us/their descendants. We will speak their names, honor their Spirits, and reconnect with "Our-story" which textbooks rarely tell.

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This deeply healing experience allows us to process collective, generational trauma experienced by the global African Diaspora. Together, we will commit to reclaiming our ancestral narratives, and walk away with a profound sense of connection to those who came before us. For anyone who has ever felt disconnected from their roots, this will be more than a history lesson - it will be a homecoming.