As an African-American, I am perpetually reminded of the impact displacement has had on Black and Brown people in the Americas. It has forced me to find familiarity and a sense of belonging in a country that often maintains that I—and others who look like me—feel the opposite. This body of work was birthed from the unwavering sense of longing that emerges as a result of being separated from your people for generations.
Visiting Palenque, Colombia, felt like a homecoming. Known as “Africa in the Americas,” Palenque is the first free slave town in the Americas and is home to 4,000 Afro-Colombians—all direct descendants of the village’s original settlers. When I arrived in the village, I received the warmest welcome by the locals and instantly felt at home. The people referred to everyone—including visitors—as “brother” or “sister”, and repeatedly reminded us that “we’re all the same”. The immense feeling of love and community that filled the entire village awakened something in me I never knew existed. It was the first time I ever felt truly at ease in my surroundings. I was only able to spend half a day in the village, but the experience will stay with me for a lifetime.
After this experience I wanted to make sure the world knew of their bravery, and how they still fight to financially keep their village afloat. This personal experience has now given me the opportunity to spread awareness to help keep their community thriving.
