As many of you know, I spent last weekend in Savannah, GA with my genea-pals Luckie, Felicia, and Mavis, and my brother Bernard. (Click here to see photos from our trip.) To say that it was a wonderful trip would truly be an understatement; it was perfect. From the company, to the weather, to the accommodations, it was a flawless weekend. My genea-sisters Felicia (My Nola Heritage), Luckie (Our Georgia Roots), and Mavis (Georgia Black Crackers) have done an excellent job, through words and/or pictures, of recounting our trip-the fun we had, and the friendship we shared. We had a great time, and I really, really enjoyed myself. Yet, I could not write about the trip. I posted photos on Tombstone Tuesday and on Wordless Wednesday, but otherwise have not blogged about my Savannah experience. It was a trip with memories that I will treasure for a lifetime, but, I just could not find words to write about the experience. Until this morning, I wasn’t sure why. Now I realize I needed time to digest – not so much what my eyes had seen, but rather what my soul had felt. It was an emotional experience like no other.
Often, mere words cannot adequately convey emotions. Often times, song lyrics can. This morning as I reflected on the trip, what came to mind was the old gospel hymn How I Got Over. In that moment, as the lyrics of the chorus flowed through my mind, I was finally able to associate my feelings and emotions with words. The chorus to the song goes:
How I got over
How I got over
You know my soul looks back and wonder
How I got over
Our ancestors have always found comfort in song. It’s no wonder this old spiritual would bring me comfort now when I was so desperate to identify what has been nagging at me these past few days. Finally, I have words for these emotions; the deep feeling of sadness. Those lines of the song perfectly reflect and sum-up my Savannah experience. My soul does surely look back and wonder…How OUR ANCESTORS Got Over.
You know my soul looks back and wonder….
How….such a beautiful room could have once been the living quarters for slave ancestors who waited the call to do their master’s bidding. Yet, my sleep there was peaceful..unusually so. No doubt some small corner of the room was a haven from the harsh realities outside. I was rocked to sleep by the spirit of those ancestors. I have no doubt about that.
How…. The Hanging Tree with all its natural beauty and splendor of 270 years was used for such and ugly purpose. My soul aches for all the ancestors whose fate was a noose at the end of a rope tied to a branch on that tree.
You know my soul looks back and wonder….
How…. our ancestors survived the lashes of a whip that cut through the bark of The Whipping Tree. My soul feels the pain that each mark on that tree represents; the screams of agony, the bloodshed, the despair. My eyes filled with tears; my heart with rage.
How….today’s beautiful and tranquil waters of the Savannah River once held vessels that transported our ancestors to the market place on River Street; to an uncertain fate, maybe even death.
You know my soul looks back and wonder….
How….men, women, children, and babies could be held in confinement awaiting the unknown fate and indignity of purchase; sold by The River, down The River on River Street. How did they endure the pain, thirst, hunger, and suffering? My soul feels empty when I think about the shear disrespect for human life.
How….the Slave Barracoons and cobblestone paths of River Street are all but forgotten by a city whose history is heavy with the spirit of our slave ancestors. I look back and I wonder.
Amongst all that is the beauty of Savannah, there lives an undeniable and unforgettable history of pain and suffering. That history is heavy with the spirit of our ancestors. That ancestor spirit is what I felt most in my soul and will never forget. As I reflect on my visit, the memory is bItter sweet and…. My soul looks back and wonder….
How THEYgot over
How THEY got over
You know my soul looks back and wonder
How OUR ANCESTORS got over
[How I Got Over is a Gospel hymn composed and published in 1951 by Rev. W. Herbert Brewster. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_I_Got_Over ]
Ah, that was very beautifully written. All of you have a great treasure in the memories of your trip!
How well your eloquent writing reflects our common reaction to a time and place we don’t understand. Great writing!
San,
Beautifully written!
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by sjtaliaferro: New Blog Post: Reflections On Savannah, GA – My Soul Looks Back And Wonder… http://tinyurl.com/ylmh78y…
Do you remember when we first started *tweeting* about traveling to Savannah and I described the sadness underneath the beauty? How something in the atmosphere weeps and that it often goes unnoticed by tourists, but is always present?
That is what you have summed-up and expressed so beautifully here.
Yes there is much weight there in the wrought iron and cobblestone and River Street Barracoons. The gate to your suite that prevented strangers from wandering in, once was the barrier to keep its inhabitants from getting out.
Thank you for putting into words what our hearts felt and connected with.
The Ancestors are smiling… they have been heard.
Luckie.
I’ve been away for a while and just happened on to your new site. It’s absolutely wonderful and well done! great job! Sounds like you had a great trip full of memories that you’ll cherish for a long time to come!
Sandra, I want to thank you, Felicia, Luckie and Mavis for allowing me to see and understand this issue in a way that is so much more real than the history books tell us. By expressing your emotions in such a personal and poignant way, you help us all understand better. Very beautifully done!
Hi Sandra,
Another beautifully written post. I wanted you to know that your “Friend of Friends” post encouraged me to post La. slave names I had–see:
http://mybigfatfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/friend-of-friends-friday-slave-records.html
Wouldn’t it be great if others started posting “Friend of Friends” info on Fridays–or any day?
Enjoying your blog–
Liz
Liz,
Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for joining the A Friend Of Friends movement. I’m glad my words inspired you. I am heading over to your blog to check out your post. Thanks for sharing the info. A “Friend of Friends” Friday sounds like another great way to encourage people to share slave information with the genealogy community. There is also a Carnival of African American Genealogy coming up on March 19. It will be the first, and another great way to share.
Thanks again.
Sandra
I am so thankful for the vacation to Savannah with my family last week. I am a social studies teacher and photographer; Savannah has been calling me for some time to come and experience the rich history that is often overlooked by those who may be only interested in the ‘surface’ beauty of this old city. I am in awe at the history that was uncovered by our wonderful tour guides. I couldn’t help but document all I saw, even though I was supposed to be just relaxing. I was inspired to continue conversations with some of my elders about my own family history when I returned home. I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with sadness as we stepped onto the beaches of Tybee Island and walked the River Street. Images of the whipping trees with its marks carved into the bark will be with me for the rest of my days. I also felt honored to have the opportunity to see and touch the remnants of what my people endured. I am beyond excited to share with my students this fall!
My heart is heavy with the beauty and sadness of your words. Thank you for this beautiful post; I felt it in my soul.