Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage Update #1

(Below is all I have had time to write in my journal so far, covering the
first 24 hours of my rejoining the pilgrimage)

8/18

Today we walked to the town of stone mountain. The mountain itself was a
sacred land of native american people until the whites came and killed
off the native americans. then for a period of over 150 years the kkk
white supremacists used stone mountain for their yearly rallies as their
sacred place. Now the rallies go no longer, as of just the last few years.
And now for the first time they have elected a black mayor. Sister Ingrid
said we need to reclaim this mountain as a sacred land for those of us who
honor diversity and the sacredness of all life.

the Mayor Chuck Burris of Stone Mountain, the first black mayor ever of
Stone mountain, gave a really powerful and inspiring speech and awarded a
declaration honoring the pilgrimage and naming this day Interfaith
pilgrimage of the middle passage day.. Some of what he said:
If there is even one hungry child, even one homeless child in our town here
it diminishes the quality of life for everyone. It hurts us all when even
one of our fellow humans are suffering and in need,. He also said that we
all are integral parts of the circle of life, and he there is conflict,
hatred and violence between any two groups of humans (between Catholics and
Protestants, between Arabs and Jews, between environmentalists and earth
raping capitalists, etc) then the circle is broken and we all suffer.

Then later that evening, Smitty (one of the African American pilgrims) gave
a very moving presentation of a passage he wrote, and I will try to get a
copy of it.

Yesterday we had a meeting with a local African American Culture society.
We had a very powerful and inspiring conversation. Some of these folks grew
up in segregated schools, riding in the back of the bus behind the nigger
only sign, having to drink water from different fountains, and they walked
and marched in the civil rights movements with MLK. One woman said she was
now teaching white students that she was not allowed to go to school with
when she grew up. It was interesting , they said at that time there were
many white people who joined in the marches to help win civil rights for
the african americans. Now the african americans are still struggling
against racism and prejudice and they don't know where those white folks
who had helped them disappeared to. On fellow also spoke about how his
children don't' acknowledge or respect the struggle that he and all those
brothers and sister struggled to win. his children just want the fancy car
and possessions, without having to work to get to that place. They refuse
to crawl first, refuse to work their way up the ladder, and they want it
all and want it all now. Some of the others agreed, and one woman teacher
commented about how so many of the youth today have no respect at all.
Even when they just try to say good morning in a friendly manner, the youth
give them strange looks, like what is wrong with you?!? this group was
doing lots of very important work and events to honor african american
heritage and to work to eradicate slavery. they said that they were
tremendously inspired and renewed by our pilgrimage coming to visit with
them and by what we were doing for africans, african americans, and all of
humanity. A very deep and inspiring exchange. They inspired us by what they
were doing and we inspired them about what we are doing. This is one of the
main purposes of the walk and in our first day back, it was very heartening
to see that first night such a profound exchange.




Have a great day.

Much peace, love, and happiness,


Shanti Om Gaia
shanti@igc.org

I am currently participating in the Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle
Passage, retracing by foot and by boat the slave trade route from New
England to Africa. For more information, please see the following web page:
www.interfaithpilgrimage.com (also a friend of mine is posting articles
about the pilgrimage on the following web page:
www.brightworks.com/quaker/midpass.html)

May all beings be happy!
May all beings live in love and peace!
May peace prevail on this beautiful living earth!