The Door of No Return

Wednesday November 27
Blog entry by: Austin Neiheiser (Lake Norman YMCA, Sports Coordinator)

When we think of history we typically think of September 11, Independence Day, or even one of the World Wars. One might not associate Senegal with too much history but do not be mistaken! Today we had the pleasure to visit Goree Island and I found more than planned. It is in fact very rich in history and culture.

Austin, Jerrell & Deion with their new Senegalese friends at Goree Island.

Goree Island started off as a slave trade island that the Portuguese would use in order to keep slaves. They had a process and plan for every person brought to the island. The first step was to weigh each individual that came in. If they were a certain weight (about 130 lbs) they were sent into the next section to be sorted into rooms. If they did not meet that requirement, they were immediately sent into a room where they would be force fed until they were fattened up enough to make weight. They had rooms for infants, virgin women, all other women, and men. They also had what was the size of a cabinet under two stairways that was intended for people who misbehaved or violent. The last and worst room was intended for slaves that were so violent they were sent there to die. The reason they let them die off was in order to make an example out of them. At the back of the complex there is the door the slaves would exit to get on the boats called ‘The Door of No Return.’ This is because once they go through that door, they would never return! They said about 20 million slaves have made it to the island at one point but only 12 million would have lived through it.

Team at Goree island - viewing the rooms that held slaves before entering the Door of No Return.

 The culture on the island is just as interesting and eye opening! There are actually a few hundred people who live on the island to this day. It is a lower income area but they have no problem making do with that they have. It is a lot of selling of goods to tourist and people who visit the island and working in the shops.

Overall it was yet another fantastic and eye-opening day that I will never forget. The kinds of people and things you see are unforgettable and allows me to look at life in a whole new way. The history was very interesting and I loved learning and seeing how the island operates. I pray to be back sometime again!

Charlotte's Global Service Learning Team visiting Goree Island November 27th, 2013.

Merci!

Coach Austin