My life has never been as good as others but before the Middle Passage, it had at least been civil. I have my wife and my children and together we managed even in times of doubt. Then came the voyage from my homeland, Africa, across the Atlantic. I was one of over 600 people taken from their work, life and loved ones onto what they called a slaving vessel. This vessel was about 30 metres long and 8 …showed first 75 words of 257 total…

…showed last 75 words of 257 total…be dead. There was blood and mucus all over our "deck". Everything around me was dying. All I could smell, feel, hear and think was death. I wanted to be dead just so I wouldn't have to deal with the deaths of others. I was occasionally brought up from the compartments so they could wash away the death...the blood and mucus and vomit.... I will never look at people the same way after this.