For many Africans across the globe, African freedom day that falls on the 25th of May, is a joyous celebration marking the day many African countries finally broke ‘free of the chains.’ But for others, this is a day of intent reflection and scrutiny as to just how far from slavery Africans have gotten.
African Freedom Day was initially the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union, on 25 May 1963. The day is one of utter celebration in various countries on the African continent, as well as around the world wide.
As we celebrate this day, let us ponder upon the world we live in today, and open our minds to the underlying meaning of the following poems of freedom.
Heaven Caraway
Hang A Thousand Trees With Ribbons
Shackles and chains
Used to run through my veins.
Freedom did not know my name
Now I roam the halls with no shame.
A brand on my torso
Haunts me also.
My writing lets out the built-up anger
Of the anchor.
Betrayal and sorrow fills the room
But I do not have gloom.
I’m always tired
But I never sleep.
I’m also sad,
But you never see me weep.
Thunder and rain
Gave me pain.
Ships and dancing
Were never romancing.
And here in the freedom I stay
Because the skies are no longer gray.
I am strong and I belong.
And I have known this all along.
Rosalind Heather Alexander
Fighting For Freedom
Taken from his family
Tricked
Kidnapped
Taken away into slavery
Sold for a slave.
Robbed
From marriage son
And a daughter.
Taken away on a ship
Captured.
Treated like animals
A life of hell
Beatings
If they didn’t work hard enough.
Denied proper food.
Or to wash without soap
Lack of sleep
Women raped
Whipped
Children taken away.
Men daily torcherd
String up
Amost hanged
Left to suffocate.
Racism.
Treated like dogs
Inhuman.
Some died
Some were murdered.
Others lived in fear.
Kidnapped
Stolen
Those people had a vrey
Horrendous lives.
In the end slavery is abolished.
It first began in a America.
In the 18 century.
Not even racism is against the law.
Modern slavery sadly exists
In the UK.
Timothy Stout
SLAVE
They still exist;
Both literally and metaphorically.
Little girls sex trafficked,
Boys slave in sweat shops,
Buissnessman works a 60 hour week.
Everyone’s got their own chains.
Some we put on freely,
Some are thrust upon us,
like maturity on an orphaned child
--Some are cut into our wrists.
With every lie,
With every curse,
With every slander,
Pain built up creates inside
these fine little links;
Alone they are weak, but together
Unbreakable
27 million slaves in the world
But that’s just an estimate.
When we look inwards
We see so. many. more.
In the history of humanity, slavery has never been as big as it is now. Up to 27 million are inslaved today. But to help these many men, woman, and children, we must free ourselves from our masters. What is the master of your life?