I was recommended by a very close friend of mine to make sure to take Professor Rudy Jean-Bart’s African-American History class, because in her words, “It will change your life.” This statement alone intrigued me so much so that I knew it was a must to take this course before leaving Broward College, and transferring to another school to further pursue my education to obtain my bachelor’s degree in Accounting. However, upon learning about this, I was already half way into completing my AA degree here at Broward College - with only 2 semesters left before graduating. I was still determined to take this class. As luck would have it though, I was not able to take it during the Spring Term due to a scheduling conflict, as I worked during the time …show more content…
Portugal was the first to be involved in the Atlantic Slave trade, which involved capturing more than ten million Africans, enslaving them, forcing them onto slave ships and then transporting them to the Americas where they were sold into slavery if they survived the harsh and brutal journey. Reading Marcus Rediker’s book entitled “The Slave Ship – A Human History” allowed me to get a mental and visual illustration of what it was like being on a slave ship through the eyes of slaves, slave traders, captains, and many others who experienced the voyages back and forth from Africa to the Americas firsthand. I can remember cringing while watching the videos of the re-enactments of how slaves were treated during that time period. Seeing and hearing the cries of men, women, and children literally brought tears to my eyes. The hatred expressed towards black people by whites all because the color of their skin was different was unspeakable and to this day I still can’t wrap my mind around WHY? Even with everything thrown at us it fills me with joy to learn that African Americans still found a way to overcome and rise to the occasion. I truly believe this is because we were built to withstand adversity and if it was the other way around I don’t think things would have turned out the same way for