Alistair Campbell focuses heavily on the Middle Passage in his Drama- 'Anansi'. Express your opinions on the Middle Passage. Express clearly how the knowledge you have gained impacted you.
The Middle Passage. This is a term that refers to the journey at sea, in which West African slaves had been taken to the Indies. This story is important to us as young people, in current times, and for me in particular, it has helped me to better understand why things are the way they are today, the overall history and evidence; but most importantly, it had the power to inspire me, to maybe make a future difference in our modern Black culture. Alistair Campbell's powerful writing had even given me the understanding of why culture is so important to us as a people. That we should stay true to ourselves as the Black race had not been seen or known as violent, but Early Europeans used our wise, free-spirited nature and unity against us. The 'Anansi' story focuses on a young girl who represented the young people of Africa. She had been taken captive, out of her home and away from her mother who then seen as a representation of her home. Later in the story, a woman, who is assumed to have experienced slavery or had been told of it, becomes the new mother figure in the girl's life. The woman can easily be described in a few words- ultimately wise, brave and with a calm nature. she becomes the girl's new representation of home, Africa, and uses Anansi (Comforter of African Slaves) stories,that tells of a weak spider who became the mightiest of the jungle from his cunning and exceptional power of the mind. She teaches the girl that although the cruel Europeans had physically restrained her, through attaining wisdom in the Anansi stories, they could not kill her soul. Throughout the rest of the play, we see the, initially frightened and panicked little girl become something so great- someone who would fight to no end, for her freedom. Even though she had to grow up quickly during the Middle Passage, witnessing the woman (her mother-figure) being dragged off to her death, it was toward her benefit and those of others, solidifying her silent promise to the woman that she would not die at the hand of the Europeans. I can see that she could easily become a leader who would lead slaves to freedom. So in all the gruesome details of the Middle Passage, it has still taught me and many others many things, particularly the preservation of culture. It is a must: to carry on our traditional stories and folktales in the West Indies. Refusing to do this, we will leave the memory of such a brave girl, and inspiring woman to die. It is in our duty as people today, to carry on their thoughts and way of life as a people, in order to regain the semblance of unity I know we once had, and could still retrieve, if we remain true to our original selves and our ancestors.
Alistair Campbell focuses heavily on the Middle Passage in his Drama- 'Anansi'. The middle passage is the journey the West African slaves took to get to the West Indies. It involved a lot of pain, but they learned to stay strong. They have taught me wisdom and the pride in our culture. One of the main characters "girl" was taken from the only home she every knew by strange men. She had not even seen the sea before. She was very confused and did not understand their language. However, the "woman" who had a lot of knowledge about slavery took up the role of the girl's mother figure and nurtered her. She was very loving and easily loved and represented Africa. She has taught me the same way she has taught the girl the power of the mind. She has taught me to always think first and be wise. I have learnt a lot about what my ancestors had to go through and it has taught me to respect my culture, to be grateful and to be unified with my people. I have learned the power of the mind and that you don't always have to fight physically. This little girl who was very confused and losy turned out to be very strong and brave. Also, I have learnt to preserve my culture. My ancestors went through a lot during the middle passage and after. I have learnt to respect them for all that they went through. Also, the Anansi storied helped to rekindle the unity between them and to help them connect. I will continue to share the Anansi stories so that all my ancestors can be alive in our hearts and generations after us. Now, I respect my ancestors even more and share as many Anansi stories I know as possible so that these stories can live on for generations to come and continue to impact lives just as it did before. I will try my best not to let that love and unity die.
Alistair Campbell focuses heavily on the Middle Passage in his drama "Anansi." The middle passage is a term used to refer to the part of the trans-atlantic slave trade where the Africans were packed onto ships and were transported to the West Indies. In "Anansi" the Africans are captured from their home and packed into the hold of the ship. Their experience in the hold is shown from the perspective of a young African girl. She mentions how disease is rampant. As they were packed together so tightly in the hold and weren't properly cared for disease spread quickly and easily. They were barely fed, only given 1 cup of grain per day in their hands like animals and they were so easily discarded by being thrown overboard when they fell sick which is the fate of the woman in the drama. This did not only happen in the drama, but also to real people during slavery. This happened to my ancestors. Reading about the middle passage inspired me and gave me a greater appreciation for my history and where I come from. It must have taken a lot of courage and strength to survive that voyage for weeks. In the drama, the old woman tries to give the girl this courage and strength by telling her the Anansi stories in the hold so she would survive the journey and her new life in the West Indies like my ancestors did and pass on the African culture. In the drama it also shows the unity forming between the people in the hold which was symbolized by the forming of Anansi's web. Despite the hardships surrounding them the Africans remained strong. This knowledge has taught me that I should be strong and have courage like my ancestors did during the middle passage as well as the importance of preserving our African heritage. Instead of fighting against each other black people should once again become unified as we were before. We should also embrace our heritage instead of looking down on it and choosing to assimilate European culture - the culture of the people who oppressed us.
In Alistair Campbell drama Anansi he heavily focused on the Middle Passage. The Middle Passage was the stage of the Triangular Trade in which African slaves were shipped to the New World.As a result of the writers' strong emphasis on this passage which lasted approximately seven week has taught me to be a strong minded individual along with my ancestors. At the begin of the drama I am introduced to two characters; woman and girl.Toward the end of the voyage before the woman's death I have seen mentally the tremendous growth of the girl.From being a scared girl in the hold on she has blossomed and now determined to live and remain strong throughout all the challenges that with come. Having read the drama about what went out into the Middle Passage I am now set out to do as the girl and remain strong no matter the circumstances. Also I have learned to become more appreciative of my African background. These Africans where kidnapped from their homes and forced to do labour. They were transported in ships that were tightly packed,they were barely fed, left in their own faeces and thrown aboard whenever they were sick. The knowledge I have gained from the drama has exposed me to the cruelty of The Americans and how they have traumatize my ancestors. I in return will show a much greater love for my people and will start by being kinder to the people around me for we are to remain united by the most important thing we have in common , Our African History.
In Anansi Alistair Campbell focused heavily on the middle passage. This passage is a sea journey by slave ships from West Africa to the West Indies during a period roughly about seven weeks. During this voyage people of a different race were treated with a sense of no being and were captured from their homes and brought on a journey that would change their life forever. This people were looked at as cargos, good transported to a place and in the playwright the close arrangement was just despicable, the Africans were packed on shelves or tied back to back to beams and on the floor in a dark place called the hold adding to the suffering they were hardly feed and only got a cup of porridge in their hands, they got an little amount of oxygen daily. Though they went through mixed emotions they not only grew but me as a reader I can only imagine some of the things they went through and have grown both physically and mentally. In the voyage, I had a greater understanding when I was introduced to the main characters the girl and woman. In the begging the girl is weak and knows nothing about her culture and identify and is lost because she was separated from her family, but unlike her the woman was different she was strong and had held her identity something that I learned to have and not lose for others. These two were tied to the beam and grew a relationship, the woman became a mother figure to the girl and with that guidance she became a replica of the woman, this was all done through the art of story telling, it was “like weaving the web” this connected their people together and this was something the European fared the most and something that today is not held on as much. In the ending when the woman died of an illness and the girl is held at the auction she tells a story that held so much meaning and one thing that she lives for is for what she owes to her ancestors. Before me I see a girl that plays a big part in history and I am proud of the courage, strength, wisdom and togetherness I can proudly say is being passed down through my ancestors to me. I learned the past and even today history is repeating it may not be as drastically as before but today discrimination still exist and being a part of the youth the change can start within me just like weaving Anansi web. Yes, in the end the repetition of the girl words “remember me” gives me a further ambition to be like her. I am so proud to say that this drama piece has made me grow into a relationship with the characters that I see the girl as a sister to me and the woman as my mother.
In the drama - 'Anansi', Alistair Campbell focuses heavily on the middle passage. The middle passage was the stage of the triangular trade (which refers to three ports or regions) where many Africans were captured and shipped to the New World as part of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. The writer's focus on this passage allowed me to broaden my knowledge of the Middle Passage. In my opinion, the middle passage was a dreadful event where the dignity and souls of the African captives were robbed. During the journey in the ship's hold the Africans were treated as creatures by the European people. They were packed tightly on shelves and chained like animals. The actions of the Europeans showed absolutely no respect or care for the people. They would feed them once daily and this was done through their hands, they handled them roughly and would simply throw them overboard when they were ill also. The drama increases the knowledge of people today. It presents to us the difficult journeys the Africans were forced to take and the ways in which they were treated. The book introduces us to two main characters throughout the play. A woman and a young girl both from Africa. We are first introduced to the young girl at a time where she was naive. She was unaware of what was going on around her before she began learning from a woman who was a representation of their homeland Africa and who later became a mother figure towards her. She is told many Anansi stories by the woman in hopes of educating her, preserving their cultures and comforting her along the journey. Towards the end the young girl transforms into someone who is brave and powerful, earning a voice, destined to survive and become stronger to stand for her people and to keep her culture alive. The knowledge gained has impacted my life greatly. I am now aware of the difficulties and cruelty faced by my ancestors through the hands of the European people. It has taught me to continue preserving our African culture so that generations to come will also be informed about the slave trade and the discrimination Africans faced. This knowledge allowed me to realize that Africans were once robbed of their voices, power and dignity and therefore it is our duty to regain this dignity and strive to preserve the culture once forcefully taken away from us.
The Middle Passage was a stage in the triangular trade where millions of Africans were transported across the Atlantic Ocean to the West Indies . In Alistair Campbell's Anansi, the middle Passage can be identified as a major aspect of the climaxing and plot in the play . In the drama slavery is well depicted when two of the main characters are taken as slaves in the triangular trade. Alistair Campbell highlights the difficulty ad struggle of gaining a settled or stable mindset in such a situation. He shows this enslavement as a journey of our ancestors in which the were dethroned from kings and queens of the mother land to slaves working on a plantation . I think today, it might be somewhat difficult to place ourselves in a position of a slave ; with our current mindset m we would not survive . Now many evidence can be gathered from this historical event such as logbooks, diaries and memoirs. After the abolition of slavery , it was identified as a controversial and conflicting issue; less and less in the past 10-20 years where black empowerment has become world wide movement where people fight against racism or discrimination against adversity. Knowledge of the biggest case of human trafficking in history lead me to understand the mindset of our ancestors. It also led me to believe that they would be disappointed in what they see today. We are colonized . Our culture , the African culture was meant to be forever and must never be forgotten. "Remember me" as spoken by the girl was meant to be a pointer to all of us to never let our culture be erased
The middle passage was a very tough journey for the Africans. It was a life changing experience for them. They were captured from their homes and packed like sardines. They were not properly cared for and as a result, diseases spread quickly. When the Africans got sick, they were to be thrown into the sea with heavy chains which brought them to the bottom of the ocean. Our ancestors went through a lot and so because of their faith and bravery, I am proud of where I came from. It shows me that I must be brave and strong just like them and that I must continue to embrace my heritage.
In Alistair Campbell "Anansi", the Middle Passage is the main focus. The middle passage is part of the triangular trade where Africans were taken from their homes and shipped to the West Indies.
Throughout this time, it is shown that the Africans were treated worst than animals. The Africans were treated so badly that they had to stay in a place called the hold. In this hold, it was very dark and cramped up. Everyone was stuck together causing diseases to spread very easily. Also, they were chained up and fed only once a day in their hand(only one handful). Sadly, our ancestors were treated like the monsters they were thought to be.
Among the Africans in the hold, there were two main characters that we are introduced too: the woman and the girl. At the beginning of the novel, the girl was very scared and it was also her first time encountering the sea. However, the woman being older, wiser and braver, tried to instill this into the girl by sharing Anansi stories with the girl. The woman wanted the girl to remain brave throughout their journey and prevent the Europeans from brain washing her. Although the Woman knew that she was sick and was about to be thrown over board, she still rained brave and stern faced throughout the novel(mainly for the girl). With the help of the woman and her Anansi stories, the girl became stronger/braver and was determined to prevent the Europeans from brain washing her.
Throughout this middle passage, I have learned of the torture that the Europeans has put my ancestors through. The same Europeans that I follow the culture of today. Having to be treated so badly, having to be killed for being sick when it's the Europeans' fault they were sick. They were brave and they had strength; something I would have lacked if I had to be in their position.
Therefore, I should never be embarrassed of my culture or afraid to embrace it. The Africans had to go through a lot for us to be where we are today and I appreciate that. A lot of our culture is erased and we are being blinded by other cultures. I believe that I should be more like the woman. I should continue to be brave, not be brain washed by other cultures and continued this trend by sharing the Anansi stories with the new generations to come.
In Alistar Campbell's Anansi the middle passage is the main focus. The middle passage refers to the part of the trade where Africans, were densely packed onto ships,and were transported across the Atlantic to the West Indies . This was one of the most difficult times in history for our ancestors . The story really shows us how badly treated they were. They were fed one once a day, stuffed together in a tight space(which was unsanitary ) and thrown overboard into the sea if they showed signs of sickness. They were bought and sold like goods. All because of their skin color, they were seen as animals and underseving of respect.
Even through all this hardship, the Africans were still brave and proud of themselves. Even though they were controlled and brainwashed, they still kept a strong hold on their culture and are still a stong people today.
The story has really enlightened me on the treatment of our ancestors. It explains and relates as to how black people are looked at today. It helps me to understand my people and what they went through. It encourages me to learn more about my ancestors, so that I can make a difference and be a proud figure for my people . So that I can honor the African slaves and to do my best to give them the respect they needed
In Alistair Campbell's 'Anansi' the middle passage is a major focus point. Only after reading this marvelous book I got a clear understanding of the middle passage. Alistair Campbell spoke about how the Europeans captured Africans from different tribes, and put them in a dark hold. They were tied together on narrow shelves and some on upright beams, these Africans were treated abominable. They were forced to lie in each other's filth, which was very unsanitary and may lead to severe diseases. They were given little food, about a handful everyday. The Europeans referred to them as cargo or goods and this shows the inhumane treatment that the Africans received. In the hold a little girl who was once lost and afraid was given hope by a woman who seemed to have a full understanding on what was going on. I am now quite proud to say that these Africans are my ancestors, because although the Europeans treated them with such bitterness they were wise and knew who they were and they stood for what they believe in therefore they survived through this trans-Atlantic voyage of torture, and because of this I look up to them as role models as my inspiration to fight through the ever existent slavery and remember who I am and where I came from.
In Alistar Campell Anansi the journey to place through the Middle Passage where the slaves were taken from Africa and brought to the West Indies. The Africans was refered to as cargo and were treated badly on this voyage many slaves died. They were held captive below the ship in a place known as the'hold' which was very packed. Since the hold was packed diseases could me spread very fast, the sick slaves was thrown overboard with weights tied to their ankles and arms. In the hold they were chained up together and fed only on hand full of porridge a day. The africans came together by the sharing of stories to pass on the wisdom needed as guidance for what ahead.
In the Alistar Campbell Anansi , the middle passage is the route taken from africa to bring the slaves to the west indies. On this passage the african's were treated poorly and were also in chains they were refered to as cargo and beasts. the slaves were held in a place below the ship called the hold , during the journey to the west indies most of the slaves got sick and were tossed overboard so they would not make the other slaves sick . these slave were pratically starved because they were only served one cup of porridge a day. this journey took a toll in my life because people should not be treating people like they are animals, so i want to be strong like the africans so i i can stand up for what i believe in and do what is right and so i can face life head on and be confident in who i am . I am proud to be an african because we are strong people
The Middle Passage is a part of the Atlantic Ocean between Africa and the West Indies where African slaves were stuffed onto a ship and were brought to the West Indies to be sold. In the drama Anansi the author focuses more on the Middle passage than other scenes of the drama. In the beginning the author introduces us to one of the main characters 'Girl' and we are shown here her journey and how she has grown from being a petrified girl to a brave and courageous girl. The Girl was taken away from her family and home Africa and was brought onto a ship to be sold in the west indies, she had no clue what was going on and what was going to happen and she was also scared for her life. When embarking on the ship the girl is tied up next to a woman the girl wanted to go back home to her family,she did not know whats happening or whats going to happen to her she was basically panicking every second but luckily the woman was reassuring her that everything is going to be alright and that she needs to be calm and relaxed. The woman has also played a big part in the play because she has made the girl who she is brave, courageous and strong and the woman has also put into the girls head Anansi stories and she wanted the girl to past down the legacy of these stories, the girl was questioning why she should pass the legacy and the woman explained that if the legacy is not passed Africa will eventually be forgotten and or culture and history will die. This has impacted me in many ways and also changed my views on my appreciation for my history and culture, The African legacy and Anansi stories should be told and passed to our future generation and our current generation. It is extremely important that we keep them alive because I bet that most of the children cannot name one Anasi story and that is why These stories should be told so that we can be inspired to pass them on as well.
In the drama script Alistair Campbell talked about a major part of the script; the Middle passage, it was essential because it was where the journey was established for the African slaves, it was the beginning of their new life the starting or the introduction of the folklore 'Anansi '. In the drama script the Middle passage held memories of all the slaves especially the two main characters (the woman and the girl)the emotions they felt, the stories that they shared, and the struggles they went through as Africans.Without the existance of the passage the girl wouldn't be aware of her culture, her beliefs and would be fearful without the wisdom, and courage passed down from the woman to her. This passage was the connection between the girl and the woman who stepped in as a mother figure in her life.
In Alistair Cambell's book, 'Anansi', the middle passage is heavily focused on. The middle passage is defined as a stage if triangular trade where Africans were densely packed onto ships to be transported to the New World. This story is predominant because it changed the history of the world entirely. It is mostly important to me because I am now better educated on the reasons for preserving my rich African culture. In this day and age the young people is seen to be pushing their native culture away and adopting the American culture. This story has greatly impacted me because it has taught me to be a strong descendant of the Africans amd how to stand firmly for my rights. I can now better communicate with others about our historical background. It is to my belief that if thr middle passage did not take place i would not be where I am today and if it wasn't for the strong bold Africans who fought for my emancipation I would maybe be an aftican slave on the plantations working under wind,sun and rain only being served one meal a day. I am very greatful for this and we Caribbean children should also be greatful and forever be mindful of what our ancestors had to go through so we could reach this this stage in life. We should live by this, "preserving our culture today for a better tomorrow for history always repeats itself."
The middle passage refers to the route the African slave were taken to the Caribbean by. The Africans were treated as cargo , objects. Left in their own filth, sickness and fed once a day. It was an extremely rough journey for those who finished the journey. This story is important to us today , so we know why certain things are they way they are. The middle passage shows that our culture is needed. The woman passed on the Anansi stories to the girl, and during the middle passage that strengthened her greatly. She made it to the end , as a result of faith and culture. It was a cruel journey, but if it did not happen our culture wouldn't be the same. The woman's teachings are meaningful to us. Without that middle passage the Caribbean would not be the Caribbean that it is today. The things we African went through made us stronger, we are who we are. We are one
In Alistair Campbell's 'Anansi' he focuses heavily on the Middle Passage. The Middle Passage was the journey the African slaves took from their homelands to the new world. Before I was completely against the African slave trade and thought that maybe if the Europeans didn't enslave my ancestors that life would have been better but I see now that because of the slave trade our ancestors stuck together and created bonds beyond their tribes. In a way, the enslavement taught me what my African ancestors were put through because of their race and culture and how in modern days we neglect their effort in keeping our African background alive. I see how we are so ashamed to have anything to do with African culture and lean more toward the European culture that belong to the same Europeans who tried to break us apart. I see how our society is so built on following traditions that were not started and passed on by our own ancestors but of those that only sought our downfall. I learned that as much as we are angry about the treatment of our ancestors we do nothing to prove our loyalty to them so all their struggle has gone to waste. The woman inspired the girl to keep her culture and know her background to prevent her from being brainwashed but today some of us take pride in ridiculing our own culture and praise the culture of those our ancestors fought against for their freedom.
The Middle Passage refers to the sea voyage of the slave trade ships where Africans, densely packed onto ships, were transported across the Atlantic to the West Indies. In Alistair Campbell's 'Anansi' he focuses heavily on the Middle Passsge and how it affected one both spiritually and physically. It is often said that everything happens for a reason, a phrase that I used to disagree with, however, reading the drama persuaded me to believe otherewise. In my opinion, the journey through Middle Passage was a cruel, demeaning and inhumane process but, it taught the Africans Bravery, Unity and Love, which were passed down to us; their descendants. Prior to this realization, I strived to accomplish the European standard of living, subjecting myself to insensitivity, covetousness, and an over all unhealthy lifestyle. The goal was to be rid of all these important values that came naturally to those of African descent. The more that I read, and analyzed the drama, the more I realized that I was being extremely ungrateful to my ancestors by trying to do away with who I am, who they had made me to be.
It wasn't the water it'self, but the actual voyage across the waters that was most impactful in the slave trade. The journey typically lasted 2-3 months, during this time the enslaved were tied together on the floor of the hold or on shelves that ran around the inside of the ships hulls. The shells were only a meter high and they couldn't stand up, they were fed and alwowed to use the bathroom once a day. Because of these poor living conditions many Africans fell sick and were considered 'poor cargo' and were sentenced to horrific deaths. But these are just a fragments of all that they suffered. Much like the girl, I started reading the drama naive and uneducated about my culture, at the end of this journey I learned to embrace my African culture and appreciate the sacrifices they made so that I could be free today. Needless to say, the voyage on the Middle Passage is an important part of history that no matter how unfair or cruel, cannot be erased; especially in the hearts of black people all around the world who continue to show the spirit of Africa, strengthening the bonds of unity among them.
In Alistair Campbell's 'Anansi’, the Middle Passage is heavily referred to. The Middle Passage is the few weeks of sea voyage to the Caribbean from Africa after the Europeans captured the Africans. In my opinion, this Middle Passage was a very tough one for those captured especially for the girl. The first week or so, the poor girl was frantic on what had happened and why she was on a 'huge canoe' bigger than the biggest of her war tribe. She was scared about the two green walls of giant trees and the sight of blue, blue nothingness.The first few days of the voyage, the girl was comforted by a woman who she could not see but hear. This woman became a mother-like figure to the girl in the drama script and gave the girl the courage to live and not die. The girl was young and knew not a lot about her culture in her home back in Africa so the woman took up the responsibility while on the voyage to teach the girl about where she came from and to give her wisdom and mental strength to stand against the Europeans who would try to colonize her when reaching their destination. The period of the voyage gave the woman ample time to teach the girl and we see in the script how the girl grew mentally and was able to think and give answers to the riddles the woman asked her. Throughout the Middle Passage the scared little girl was calmed and was even laughing at the end of the Anansi stories which was like the main source of wisdom for the Africans. While on the voyage, a deadly illness was seen to be in the hold and was very contagious on the boat because the Africans were getting lack of fresh air. The woman caught this disease along with others but she encouraged the girl who didn't catch it to not get sick and to survive the rampage of the illness around her.
The knowledge on what happened during the Middle Passage has greatly impacted me. ‘Anansi’ from Alistair Campbell has shown me the difference between the family life from the Africans and the Europeans. We may like to take on all the ways of the Europeans even the negative ways. We must embrace our African ancestors and treat one another with kindness like our ancestors treated their families, friends and even strangers. If we see that one is in distress, we should encourage them to be happier like how the woman comforted the girl when she didn't know what was happening around her. The African culture which is explored shows me that even in difficult times we must hold strong mentally to face these difficulties like our African ancestors did. The Captain's son, the boy, has also inspired me to treat one another with respect and kindness because we are all made in God's image as the Bible says. There is no way that someone of a different color and race should be called a ‘cargo’ and taken away from their homes to work as slaves in places they have never been. Being put on a ship, squeezing with other people they probably did not know, only eating once a day and not getting the oxygen and atmosphere that you are accustomed to is not easy. The beautiful thing about it is that throughout this difficulty, the Africans still bonded with one another in that hold. I think if they did not bond there, they all would have died of the illness. This doesn't only apply to the Africans but the other races and people who experience discrimination because of where they came from, their culture and who they are. Some experience human trafficking and extreme poverty but their hopes for a better life is still alive. Knowing all of this has encouraged me to do something better for the world and the people who need it. To tell someone that there is a better day coming, to help them out and to show a little kindness like the Africans did to the people around them.
The Middle Passage. This is a term that refers to the journey at sea, in which West African slaves had been taken to the Indies. This story is important to us as young people, in current times, and for me in particular, it has helped me to better understand why things are the way they are today, the overall history and evidence; but most importantly, it had the power to inspire me, to maybe make a future difference in our modern Black culture. Alistair Campbell's powerful writing had even given me the understanding of why culture is so important to us as a people. That we should stay true to ourselves as the Black race had not been seen or known as violent, but Early Europeans used our wise, free-spirited nature and unity against us. The 'Anansi' story focuses on a young girl who represented the young people of Africa. She had been taken captive, out of her home and away from her mother who then seen as a representation of her home. Later in the story, a woman, who is assumed to have experienced slavery or had been told of it, becomes the new mother figure in the girl's life. The woman can easily be described in a few words- ultimately wise, brave and with a calm nature. she becomes the girl's new representation of home, Africa, and uses Anansi (Comforter of African Slaves) stories,that tells of a weak spider who became the mightiest of the jungle from his cunning and exceptional power of the mind. She teaches the girl that although the cruel Europeans had physically restrained her, through attaining wisdom in the Anansi stories, they could not kill her soul. Throughout the rest of the play, we see the, initially frightened and panicked little girl become something so great- someone who would fight to no end, for her freedom. Even though she had to grow up quickly during the Middle Passage, witnessing the woman (her mother-figure) being dragged off to her death, it was toward her benefit and those of others, solidifying her silent promise to the woman that she would not die at the hand of the Europeans. I can see that she could easily become a leader who would lead slaves to freedom. So in all the gruesome details of the Middle Passage, it has still taught me and many others many things, particularly the preservation of culture. It is a must: to carry on our traditional stories and folktales in the West Indies. Refusing to do this, we will leave the memory of such a brave girl, and inspiring woman to die. It is in our duty as people today, to carry on their thoughts and way of life as a people, in order to regain the semblance of unity I know we once had, and could still retrieve, if we remain true to our original selves and our ancestors.
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ReplyDeleteAlistair Campbell focuses heavily on the Middle Passage in his Drama- 'Anansi'. The middle passage is the journey the West African slaves took to get to the West Indies. It involved a lot of pain, but they learned to stay strong. They have taught me wisdom and the pride in our culture. One of the main characters "girl" was taken from the only home she every knew by strange men. She had not even seen the sea before. She was very confused and did not understand their language. However, the "woman" who had a lot of knowledge about slavery took up the role of the girl's mother figure and nurtered her. She was very loving and easily loved and represented Africa. She has taught me the same way she has taught the girl the power of the mind. She has taught me to always think first and be wise. I have learnt a lot about what my ancestors had to go through and it has taught me to respect my culture, to be grateful and to be unified with my people. I have learned the power of the mind and that you don't always have to fight physically. This little girl who was very confused and losy turned out to be very strong and brave. Also, I have learnt to preserve my culture. My ancestors went through a lot during the middle passage and after. I have learnt to respect them for all that they went through. Also, the Anansi storied helped to rekindle the unity between them and to help them connect. I will continue to share the Anansi stories so that all my ancestors can be alive in our hearts and generations after us. Now, I respect my ancestors even more and share as many Anansi stories I know as possible so that these stories can live on for generations to come and continue to impact lives just as it did before. I will try my best not to let that love and unity die.
ReplyDeleteAlistair Campbell focuses heavily on the Middle Passage in his drama "Anansi." The middle passage is a term used to refer to the part of the trans-atlantic slave trade where the Africans were packed onto ships and were transported to the West Indies.
ReplyDeleteIn "Anansi" the Africans are captured from their home and packed into the hold of the ship. Their experience in the hold is shown from the perspective of a young African girl. She mentions how disease is rampant. As they were packed together so tightly in the hold and weren't properly cared for disease spread quickly and easily. They were barely fed, only given 1 cup of grain per day in their hands like animals and they were so easily discarded by being thrown overboard when they fell sick which is the fate of the woman in the drama.
This did not only happen in the drama, but also to real people during slavery. This happened to my ancestors.
Reading about the middle passage inspired me and gave me a greater appreciation for my history and where I come from. It must have taken a lot of courage and strength to survive that voyage for weeks. In the drama, the old woman tries to give the girl this courage and strength by telling her the Anansi stories in the hold so she would survive the journey and her new life in the West Indies like my ancestors did and pass on the African culture.
In the drama it also shows the unity forming between the people in the hold which was symbolized by the forming of Anansi's web. Despite the hardships surrounding them the Africans remained strong.
This knowledge has taught me that I should be strong and have courage like my ancestors did during the middle passage as well as the importance of preserving our African heritage. Instead of fighting against each other black people should once again become unified as we were before. We should also embrace our heritage instead of looking down on it and choosing to assimilate European culture - the culture of the people who oppressed us.
In Alistair Campbell drama Anansi he heavily focused on the Middle Passage. The Middle Passage was the stage of the Triangular Trade in which African slaves were shipped to the New World.As a result of the writers' strong emphasis on this passage which lasted approximately seven week has taught me to be a strong minded individual along with my ancestors. At the begin of the drama I am introduced to two characters; woman and girl.Toward the end of the voyage before the woman's death I have seen mentally the tremendous growth of the girl.From being a scared girl in the hold on she has blossomed and now determined to live and remain strong throughout all the challenges that with come. Having read the drama about what went out into the Middle Passage I am now set out to do as the girl and remain strong no matter the circumstances. Also I have learned to become more appreciative of my African background. These Africans where kidnapped from their homes and forced to do labour. They were transported in ships that were tightly packed,they were barely fed, left in their own faeces and thrown aboard whenever they were sick. The knowledge I have gained from the drama has exposed me to the cruelty of The Americans and how they have traumatize my ancestors. I in return will show a much greater love for my people and will start by being kinder to the people around me for we are to remain united by the most important thing we have in common , Our African History.
ReplyDeleteIn Anansi Alistair Campbell focused heavily on the middle passage. This passage is a sea journey by slave ships from West Africa to the West Indies during a period roughly about seven weeks. During this voyage people of a different race were treated with a sense of no being and were captured from their homes and brought on a journey that would change their life forever.
ReplyDeleteThis people were looked at as cargos, good transported to a place and in the playwright the close arrangement was just despicable, the Africans were packed on shelves or tied back to back to beams and on the floor in a dark place called the hold adding to the suffering they were hardly feed and only got a cup of porridge in their hands, they got an little amount of oxygen daily. Though they went through mixed emotions they not only grew but me as a reader I can only imagine some of the things they went through and have grown both physically and mentally.
In the voyage, I had a greater understanding when I was introduced to the main characters the girl and woman. In the begging the girl is weak and knows nothing about her culture and identify and is lost because she was separated from her family, but unlike her the woman was different she was strong and had held her identity something that I learned to have and not lose for others. These two were tied to the beam and grew a relationship, the woman became a mother figure to the girl and with that guidance she became a replica of the woman, this was all done through the art of story telling, it was “like weaving the web” this connected their people together and this was something the European fared the most and something that today is not held on as much. In the ending when the woman died of an illness and the girl is held at the auction she tells a story that held so much meaning and one thing that she lives for is for what she owes to her ancestors.
Before me I see a girl that plays a big part in history and I am proud of the courage, strength, wisdom and togetherness I can proudly say is being passed down through my ancestors to me. I learned the past and even today history is repeating it may not be as drastically as before but today discrimination still exist and being a part of the youth the change can start within me just like weaving Anansi web. Yes, in the end the repetition of the girl words “remember me” gives me a further ambition to be like her. I am so proud to say that this drama piece has made me grow into a relationship with the characters that I see the girl as a sister to me and the woman as my mother.
In the drama - 'Anansi', Alistair Campbell focuses heavily on the middle passage. The middle passage was the stage of the triangular trade (which refers to three ports or regions) where many Africans were captured and shipped to the New World as part of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. The writer's focus on this passage allowed me to broaden my knowledge of the Middle Passage.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the middle passage was a dreadful event where the dignity and souls of the African captives were robbed. During the journey in the ship's hold the Africans were treated as creatures by the European people. They were packed tightly on shelves and chained like animals. The actions of the Europeans showed absolutely no respect or care for the people. They would feed them once daily and this was done through their hands, they handled them roughly and would simply throw them overboard when they were ill also.
The drama increases the knowledge of people today. It presents to us the difficult journeys the Africans were forced to take and the ways in which they were treated. The book introduces us to two main characters throughout the play. A woman and a young girl both from Africa. We are first introduced to the young girl at a time where she was naive. She was unaware of what was going on around her before she began learning from a woman who was a representation of their homeland Africa and who later became a mother figure towards her. She is told many Anansi stories by the woman in hopes of educating her, preserving their cultures and comforting her along the journey. Towards the end the young girl transforms into someone who is brave and powerful, earning a voice, destined to survive and become stronger to stand for her people and to keep her culture alive.
The knowledge gained has impacted my life greatly. I am now aware of the difficulties and cruelty faced by my ancestors through the hands of the European people. It has taught me to continue preserving our African culture so that generations to come will also be informed about the slave trade and the discrimination Africans faced. This knowledge allowed me to realize that Africans were once robbed of their voices, power and dignity and therefore it is our duty to regain this dignity and strive to preserve the culture once forcefully taken away from us.
The Middle Passage was a stage in the triangular trade where millions of Africans were transported across the Atlantic Ocean to the West Indies . In Alistair Campbell's Anansi, the middle Passage can be identified as a major aspect of the climaxing and plot in the play . In the drama slavery is well depicted when two of the main characters are taken as slaves in the triangular trade. Alistair Campbell highlights the difficulty ad struggle of gaining a settled or stable mindset in such a situation. He shows this enslavement as a journey of our ancestors in which the were dethroned from kings and queens of the mother land to slaves working on a plantation . I think today, it might be somewhat difficult to place ourselves in a position of a slave ; with our current mindset m we would not survive . Now many evidence can be gathered from this historical event such as logbooks, diaries and memoirs. After the abolition of slavery , it was identified as a controversial and conflicting issue; less and less in the past 10-20 years where black empowerment has become world wide movement where people fight against racism or discrimination against adversity. Knowledge of the biggest case of human trafficking in history lead me to understand the mindset of our ancestors. It also led me to believe that they would be disappointed in what they see today. We are colonized . Our culture , the African culture was meant to be forever and must never be forgotten. "Remember me" as spoken by the girl was meant to be a pointer to all of us to never let our culture be erased
ReplyDeleteThe middle passage was a very tough journey for the Africans. It was a life changing experience for them. They were captured from their homes and packed like sardines. They were not properly cared for and as a result, diseases spread quickly. When the Africans got sick, they were to be thrown into the sea with heavy chains which brought them to the bottom of the ocean. Our ancestors went through a lot and so because of their faith and bravery, I am proud of where I came from. It shows me that I must be brave and strong just like them and that I must continue to embrace my heritage.
ReplyDeleteIn Alistair Campbell "Anansi", the Middle Passage is the main focus. The middle passage is part of the triangular trade where Africans were taken from their homes and shipped to the West Indies.
ReplyDeleteThroughout this time, it is shown that the Africans were treated worst than animals. The Africans were treated so badly that they had to stay in a place called the hold. In this hold, it was very dark and cramped up. Everyone was stuck together causing diseases to spread very easily. Also, they were chained up and fed only once a day in their hand(only one handful). Sadly, our ancestors were treated like the monsters they were thought to be.
Among the Africans in the hold, there were two main characters that we are introduced too: the woman and the girl. At the beginning of the novel, the girl was very scared and it was also her first time encountering the sea. However, the woman being older, wiser and braver, tried to instill this into the girl by sharing Anansi stories with the girl. The woman wanted the girl to remain brave throughout their journey and prevent the Europeans from brain washing her. Although the Woman knew that she was sick and was about to be thrown over board, she still rained brave and stern faced throughout the novel(mainly for the girl). With the help of the woman and her Anansi stories, the girl became stronger/braver and was determined to prevent the Europeans from brain washing her.
Throughout this middle passage, I have learned of the torture that the Europeans has put my ancestors through. The same Europeans that I follow the culture of today. Having to be treated so badly, having to be killed for being sick when it's the Europeans' fault they were sick. They were brave and they had strength; something I would have lacked if I had to be in their position.
Therefore, I should never be embarrassed of my culture or afraid to embrace it. The Africans had to go through a lot for us to be where we are today and I appreciate that. A lot of our culture is erased and we are being blinded by other cultures. I believe that I should be more like the woman. I should continue to be brave, not be brain washed by other cultures and continued this trend by sharing the Anansi stories with the new generations to come.
In Alistar Campbell's Anansi the middle passage is the main focus. The middle passage refers to the part of the trade where Africans, were densely packed onto ships,and were transported across the Atlantic to the West Indies . This was one of the most difficult times in history for our ancestors . The story really shows us how badly treated they were. They were fed one once a day, stuffed together in a tight space(which was unsanitary ) and thrown overboard into the sea if they showed signs of sickness. They were bought and sold like goods. All because of their skin color, they were seen as animals and underseving of respect.
ReplyDeleteEven through all this hardship, the Africans were still brave and proud of themselves. Even though they were controlled and brainwashed, they still kept a strong hold on their culture and are still a stong people today.
The story has really enlightened me on the treatment of our ancestors. It explains and relates as to how black people are looked at today. It helps me to understand my people and what they went through. It encourages me to learn more about my ancestors, so that I can make a difference and be a proud figure for my people . So that I can honor the African slaves and to do my best to give them the respect they needed
In Alistair Campbell's 'Anansi' the middle passage is a major focus point.
ReplyDeleteOnly after reading this marvelous book I got a clear understanding of the middle passage. Alistair Campbell spoke about how the Europeans captured Africans from different tribes, and put them in a dark hold. They were tied together on narrow shelves and some on upright beams, these Africans were treated abominable. They were forced to lie in each other's filth, which was very unsanitary and may lead to severe diseases. They were given little food, about a handful everyday. The Europeans referred to them as cargo or goods and this shows the inhumane treatment that the Africans received. In the hold a little girl who was once lost and afraid was given hope by a woman who seemed to have a full understanding on what was going on. I am now quite proud to say that these Africans are my ancestors, because although the Europeans treated them with such bitterness they were wise and knew who they were and they stood for what they believe in therefore they survived through this trans-Atlantic voyage of torture, and because of this I look up to them as role models as my inspiration to fight through the ever existent slavery and remember who I am and where I came from.
In Alistar Campell Anansi the journey to place through the Middle Passage where the slaves were taken from Africa and brought to the West Indies. The Africans was refered to as cargo and were treated badly on this voyage many slaves died. They were held captive below the ship in a place known as the'hold' which was very packed. Since the hold was packed diseases could me spread very fast, the sick slaves was thrown overboard with weights tied to their ankles and arms. In the hold they were chained up together and fed only on hand full of porridge a day. The africans came together by the sharing of stories to pass on the wisdom needed as guidance for what ahead.
ReplyDeleteIn the Alistar Campbell Anansi , the middle passage is the route taken from africa to bring the slaves to the west indies. On this passage the african's were treated poorly and were also in chains they were refered to as cargo and beasts. the slaves were held in a place below the ship called the hold , during the journey to the west indies most of the slaves got sick and were tossed overboard so they would not make the other slaves sick . these slave were pratically starved because they were only served one cup of porridge a day. this journey took a toll in my life because people should not be treating people like they are animals, so i want to be strong like the africans so i i can stand up for what i believe in and do what is right and so i can face life head on and be confident in who i am . I am proud to be an african because we are strong people
ReplyDeleteThe Middle Passage is a part of the Atlantic Ocean between Africa and the West Indies where African slaves were stuffed onto a ship and were brought to the West Indies to be sold. In the drama Anansi the author focuses more on the Middle passage than other scenes of the drama. In the beginning the author introduces us to one of the main characters 'Girl' and we are shown here her journey and how she has grown from being a petrified girl to a brave and courageous girl. The Girl was taken away from her family and home Africa and was brought onto a ship to be sold in the west indies, she had no clue what was going on and what was going to happen and she was also scared for her life. When embarking on the ship the girl is tied up next to a woman the girl wanted to go back home to her family,she did not know whats happening or whats going to happen to her she was basically panicking every second but luckily the woman was reassuring her that everything is going to be alright and that she needs to be calm and relaxed. The woman has also played a big part in the play because she has made the girl who she is brave, courageous and strong and the woman has also put into the girls head Anansi stories and she wanted the girl to past down the legacy of these stories, the girl was questioning why she should pass the legacy and the woman explained that if the legacy is not passed Africa will eventually be forgotten and or culture and history will die. This has impacted me in many ways and also changed my views on my appreciation for my history and culture, The African legacy and Anansi stories should be told and passed to our future generation and our current generation. It is extremely important that we keep them alive because I bet that most of the children cannot name one Anasi story and that is why These stories should be told so that we can be inspired to pass them on as well.
ReplyDeleteIn the drama script Alistair Campbell talked about a major part of the script; the Middle passage, it was essential because it was where the journey was established for the African slaves, it was the beginning of their new life the starting or the introduction of the folklore 'Anansi '. In the drama script the Middle passage held memories of all the slaves especially the two main characters (the woman and the girl)the emotions they felt, the stories that they shared, and the struggles they went through as Africans.Without the existance of the passage the girl wouldn't be aware of her culture, her beliefs and would be fearful without the wisdom, and courage passed down from the woman to her. This passage was the connection between the girl and the woman who stepped in as a mother figure in her life.
ReplyDeleteIn Alistair Cambell's book, 'Anansi', the middle passage is heavily focused on. The middle passage is defined as a stage if triangular trade where Africans were densely packed onto ships to be transported to the New World. This story is predominant because it changed the history of the world entirely. It is mostly important to me because I am now better educated on the reasons for preserving my rich African culture. In this day and age the young people is seen to be pushing their native culture away and adopting the American culture. This story has greatly impacted me because it has taught me to be a strong descendant of the Africans amd how to stand firmly for my rights. I can now better communicate with others about our historical background. It is to my belief that if thr middle passage did not take place i would not be where I am today and if it wasn't for the strong bold Africans who fought for my emancipation I would maybe be an aftican slave on the plantations working under wind,sun and rain only being served one meal a day. I am very greatful for this and we Caribbean children should also be greatful and forever be mindful of what our ancestors had to go through so we could reach this this stage in life. We should live by this, "preserving our culture today for a better tomorrow for history always repeats itself."
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ReplyDeleteThe middle passage refers to the route the African slave were taken to the Caribbean by. The Africans were treated as cargo , objects. Left in their own filth, sickness and fed once a day. It was an extremely rough journey for those who finished the journey. This story is important to us today , so we know why certain things are they way they are. The middle passage shows that our culture is needed. The woman passed on the Anansi stories to the girl, and during the middle passage that strengthened her greatly. She made it to the end , as a result of faith and culture. It was a cruel journey, but if it did not happen our culture wouldn't be the same. The woman's teachings are meaningful to us. Without that middle passage the Caribbean would not be the Caribbean that it is today. The things we African went through made us stronger, we are who we are. We are one
In Alistair Campbell's 'Anansi' he focuses heavily on the Middle Passage. The Middle Passage was the journey the African slaves took from their homelands to the new world. Before I was completely against the African slave trade and thought that maybe if the Europeans didn't enslave my ancestors that life would have been better but I see now that because of the slave trade our ancestors stuck together and created bonds beyond their tribes. In a way, the enslavement taught me what my African ancestors were put through because of their race and culture and how in modern days we neglect their effort in keeping our African background alive. I see how we are so ashamed to have anything to do with African culture and lean more toward the European culture that belong to the same Europeans who tried to break us apart. I see how our society is so built on following traditions that were not started and passed on by our own ancestors but of those that only sought our downfall. I learned that as much as we are angry about the treatment of our ancestors we do nothing to prove our loyalty to them so all their struggle has gone to waste. The woman inspired the girl to keep her culture and know her background to prevent her from being brainwashed but today some of us take pride in ridiculing our own culture and praise the culture of those our ancestors fought against for their freedom.
DeleteThe Middle Passage refers to the sea voyage of the slave trade ships where Africans, densely packed onto ships, were transported across the Atlantic to the West Indies. In Alistair Campbell's 'Anansi' he focuses heavily on the Middle Passsge and how it affected one both spiritually and physically. It is often said that everything happens for a reason, a phrase that I used to disagree with, however, reading the drama persuaded me to believe otherewise. In my opinion, the journey through Middle Passage was a cruel, demeaning and inhumane process but, it taught the Africans Bravery, Unity and Love, which were passed down to us; their descendants. Prior to this realization, I strived to accomplish the European standard of living, subjecting myself to insensitivity, covetousness, and an over all unhealthy lifestyle. The goal was to be rid of all these important values that came naturally to those of African descent. The more that I read, and analyzed the drama, the more I realized that I was being extremely ungrateful to my ancestors by trying to do away with who I am, who they had made me to be.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't the water it'self, but the actual voyage across the waters that was most impactful in the slave trade. The journey typically lasted 2-3 months, during this time the enslaved were tied together on the floor of the hold or on shelves that ran around the inside of the ships hulls. The shells were only a meter high and they couldn't stand up, they were fed and alwowed to use the bathroom once a day. Because of these poor living conditions many Africans fell sick and were considered 'poor cargo' and were sentenced to horrific deaths. But these are just a fragments of all that they suffered. Much like the girl, I started reading the drama naive and uneducated about my culture, at the end of this journey I learned to embrace my African culture and appreciate the sacrifices they made so that I could be free today. Needless to say, the voyage on the Middle Passage is an important part of history that no matter how unfair or cruel, cannot be erased; especially in the hearts of black people all around the world who continue to show the spirit of Africa, strengthening the bonds of unity among them.
In Alistair Campbell's 'Anansi’, the Middle Passage is heavily referred to. The Middle Passage is the few weeks of sea voyage to the Caribbean from Africa after the Europeans captured the Africans. In my opinion, this Middle Passage was a very tough one for those captured especially for the girl. The first week or so, the poor girl was frantic on what had happened and why she was on a 'huge canoe' bigger than the biggest of her war tribe. She was scared about the two green walls of giant trees and the sight of blue, blue nothingness.The first few days of the voyage, the girl was comforted by a woman who she could not see but hear. This woman became a mother-like figure to the girl in the drama script and gave the girl the courage to live and not die. The girl was young and knew not a lot about her culture in her home back in Africa so the woman took up the responsibility while on the voyage to teach the girl about where she came from and to give her wisdom and mental strength to stand against the Europeans who would try to colonize her when reaching their destination. The period of the voyage gave the woman ample time to teach the girl and we see in the script how the girl grew mentally and was able to think and give answers to the riddles the woman asked her. Throughout the Middle Passage the scared little girl was calmed and was even laughing at the end of the Anansi stories which was like the main source of wisdom for the Africans. While on the voyage, a deadly illness was seen to be in the hold and was very contagious on the boat because the Africans were getting lack of fresh air. The woman caught this disease along with others but she encouraged the girl who didn't catch it to not get sick and to survive the rampage of the illness around her.
ReplyDeleteThe knowledge on what happened during the Middle Passage has greatly impacted me. ‘Anansi’ from Alistair Campbell has shown me the difference between the family life from the Africans and the Europeans. We may like to take on all the ways of the Europeans even the negative ways. We must embrace our African ancestors and treat one another with kindness like our ancestors treated their families, friends and even strangers. If we see that one is in distress, we should encourage them to be happier like how the woman comforted the girl when she didn't know what was happening around her. The African culture which is explored shows me that even in difficult times we must hold strong mentally to face these difficulties like our African ancestors did. The Captain's son, the boy, has also inspired me to treat one another with respect and kindness because we are all made in God's image as the Bible says. There is no way that someone of a different color and race should be called a ‘cargo’ and taken away from their homes to work as slaves in places they have never been. Being put on a ship, squeezing with other people they probably did not know, only eating once a day and not getting the oxygen and atmosphere that you are accustomed to is not easy. The beautiful thing about it is that throughout this difficulty, the Africans still bonded with one another in that hold. I think if they did not bond there, they all would have died of the illness. This doesn't only apply to the Africans but the other races and people who experience discrimination because of where they came from, their culture and who they are. Some experience human trafficking and extreme poverty but their hopes for a better life is still alive. Knowing all of this has encouraged me to do something better for the world and the people who need it. To tell someone that there is a better day coming, to help them out and to show a little kindness like the Africans did to the people around them.