One day as I was walking on the peaceful road through my homeland jungle,
three men came upon me. Imagine, they had white skin. I had never seen
anyone with this color skin so I begin to introduce myself. Something hard
hit my neck. I can remember no more.
When I awoke, I was sitting almost on top of another man. There were many like myself in this cramped space. I tried to stand up only to hit my head painfully on the ceiling above. Then I began to realize that this thing was rocking back and forth. The smells of rotting wood and other disgusting things began to fill the small confined area. I could hear the creaks and moans of the wood, and the footsteps of many above us. I began to suddenly feel homesick. I thought about my mom, brother, sister, and wondered where these white people were taking us. All in good time, I would know my fate. I looked around and saw the frightened and scared faces of my companions. We were all wondering about our lives in Africa and where it was.
By midday we all began to sweat. The temperature began to rise. Body odor lingered in the stagnant air. The white people brought us our rations at the beginning of that morning; a banana, bread that was filled with maggots, and a small cup of water. It was all we were given to eat for one day. At midday the white people came for us. Then I noticed the hard iron things binding my hands and feet together. I tried to move them; they only made painful burns on my feet and wrists. A yoke was put on my neck. I was also bound to the person in front of me as well as the person behind me. Then we ventured out.
Once upon the top, the air whipped upon my face with a refreshing coolness. The sun was so bright we could not see too well, considering the dark hole we were coming out of. The white people splashed us with water from the sea to clean all things off our bodies. It was good to feel somewhat clean. Three people today have jumped over the side thinking they could swim to a shore, instead they just died. How could they survive in that big sparkling azure wasteland? One person was extremely thirsty and took a dipperful of water out of the keg. The captain found out. The poor man got a lashing of a lifetime. He screamed like a wounded animal caught in a trap. Then the sailors splashed the man with the salt water. He screamed like there was no tomorrow. He was left to hang in agony.
We were forced down into the dark hold of the floating thing. Back into the smelly, hot, rotten, and dank place, where dreams of life, love, and family were destroyed. We had no idea of where we were going or what was to become of us. I guess we will find out.
By: Ashley Wolf January 7, 2003
When I awoke, I was sitting almost on top of another man. There were many like myself in this cramped space. I tried to stand up only to hit my head painfully on the ceiling above. Then I began to realize that this thing was rocking back and forth. The smells of rotting wood and other disgusting things began to fill the small confined area. I could hear the creaks and moans of the wood, and the footsteps of many above us. I began to suddenly feel homesick. I thought about my mom, brother, sister, and wondered where these white people were taking us. All in good time, I would know my fate. I looked around and saw the frightened and scared faces of my companions. We were all wondering about our lives in Africa and where it was.
By midday we all began to sweat. The temperature began to rise. Body odor lingered in the stagnant air. The white people brought us our rations at the beginning of that morning; a banana, bread that was filled with maggots, and a small cup of water. It was all we were given to eat for one day. At midday the white people came for us. Then I noticed the hard iron things binding my hands and feet together. I tried to move them; they only made painful burns on my feet and wrists. A yoke was put on my neck. I was also bound to the person in front of me as well as the person behind me. Then we ventured out.
Once upon the top, the air whipped upon my face with a refreshing coolness. The sun was so bright we could not see too well, considering the dark hole we were coming out of. The white people splashed us with water from the sea to clean all things off our bodies. It was good to feel somewhat clean. Three people today have jumped over the side thinking they could swim to a shore, instead they just died. How could they survive in that big sparkling azure wasteland? One person was extremely thirsty and took a dipperful of water out of the keg. The captain found out. The poor man got a lashing of a lifetime. He screamed like a wounded animal caught in a trap. Then the sailors splashed the man with the salt water. He screamed like there was no tomorrow. He was left to hang in agony.
We were forced down into the dark hold of the floating thing. Back into the smelly, hot, rotten, and dank place, where dreams of life, love, and family were destroyed. We had no idea of where we were going or what was to become of us. I guess we will find out.
By: Ashley Wolf January 7, 2003