‘Weeping Time’ author finds hope in African American resilience

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 the largest recorded slave auction in American history which took place in Savannah, Georgia in 1859.

More than 400 men, women and children were sold by the estates of Butler Plantation. Although I must admit it’s not my normal daily read, “Weeping Time” is quite compelling, as is the author, Dr. Anne Bailey.

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I met Bailey during my trip to Jamaica in December. We stayed at her home in the hills of Portland surrounded by the scenic natural beauty of Jamaica in all its glory. Dr Anne was a gracious host for us as we were there to support Green Team International. Bailey founded the nonprofit organization in 2013.

Green Team International is an outgrowth of the ecotourism site, St. Mary’s Peace Farm whose mission is to empower people in North America, the Caribbean, the African Diaspora and around the world in education and the environment through grassroots community initiatives.

One such initiative is outreach at Jacks River Elementary 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 they made from their farm. We brought gifts and gave them to the children and shared words of encouragement with them.

It was a hugely rewarding experience, and it’s great to see how Green Team International supports this school in the rural community and provides scholarships for children to continue their education.

In a recent Think Hope Podcast conversation with Dr Anne, who has dual American and Jamaican citizenship, I asked her what brings her hope and among the things she shared was the resilience of African Americans and those in the African Diaspora. I have to say that it also gives me hope.

To hear my interview with Anne Bailey, listen to the Think Hope podcast, which premiered on February 22, 2022 and anytime after, on blogtalkradio.com/thinkhopeApple Podcast and Amazon Radio.

Rosalind Y. Tompkins received a Doctor of Humanities degree from Five Fold Ministry Theological University in 2012. To learn more, visit makeahopeconnection.com.

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