What brings me hope
The resiliency of African Americans and those of the African Diaspora
Photo submitted
By Rosalind Tompkins
Special to the Outlook
I am currently reading “The Weeping Time: Memory and the Largest Slave Auction in American History,” by Anne Caroline Bailey, published by Cambridge University Press in October 2017.
“The Weeping Time” is about the largest recorded slave auction in American history that took place in Savannah, Ga., in 1859. Over four hundred men women and children were sold by the Butler Plantation estates. While I must admit it is not my normal everyday reading the “Weeping Time” is quite compelling and so is the author Dr. Anne Bailey.
I met Dr. Bailey when I traveled to Jamaica in December. We stayed at her home in the hills of Portland surrounded by the picturesque natural beauty of Jamaica in all her glory. Dr. Anne was a gracious host to us as we were there to support Green Team International. Dr. Anne Bailey founded the non-profit organization in 2013.
Green Team International is an outgrowth of the ecotourist site, St. Mary’s Peace Farm whose mission is to empower people in North America, the Caribbean, the African Diaspora, and the world in matters concerning education and the environment through community-based grassroots initiatives. One of those initiatives is the outreach to Jacks River Primary School, located in the community of Jacks River in the Parish of St. Mary.
We attended a Christmas program at Jack’s River school and ate some of the delicious food that they prepared from their farm. We brought gifts and gave them to the children and shared words of encouragement with them. It was an extremely rewarding experience, and it is great to see how Green Team International is supporting this school in the rural community and providing scholarships for the children to continue their education.
In a recent Think Hope Podcast hope chat with Dr. Anne who is a dual citizen of the US and Jamaica, I asked her what brings her hope. Among the things that she shared was the resiliency of African Americans and those of the African Diaspora. I must say that brings me hope, too.
To hear my interview with Dr. Anne Bailey please listen to Think Hope Podcast, which premiered on Feb. 22. The podcast is available at www.blogtalkradio.com/thinkhope, Apple Podcast, and Amazon Radio.
Rosalind Tompkins, Ph.D. is author of “As Long As There Is Breath In Your Body, There Is Still Hope,” and other inspirational books. Tompkins is also founder of Turning Point International Church, the Chapel of Mothers In Crisis. She’s also founder of Turning Point International Alliance with ministries and churches in Pakistan, Nepal, Eswatini, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, and St. Vincent in the West Indies.
