I can't help but cry, as he describe the horrible conditions slaves endured. When people make statements about why do you care what happen so long ago. My answer "The spirit of my Ancestors flow within me!! I carry not only their DNA, but also their pain and fear. In that dark, cold , Godless place one of my Ancestors survived for me to have life, I am their hope. I will never forget, what my Ancestor endured for me to live. So, my tears flow for their pain, but also for gratitude.
I truly detest when ppl want us to get over slavery. The affects of slavery lasted well beyond the 1800's My Grandmother told many stories of the past. She passed away recently at age 96. She was born of a blk/Jamaican mother and German father who chose his white family over his two kids and my great-grandmother. The nerve of the white minority being racist in the Caribbean. I may open a can of worms by searching for info on my ancestors but it's something Ive always wanted to do. I suspect my journey (like Don) will end in Ghana
I couldn't help crying especially knowing slavery still exists in the world.How can people close their eyes to Saudi Arabia's support of slavery today,why do civilized countries still do business with them?Such evil in this world.
How can ppl that didn’t own slaves, owe ppl anything that were never slaves themselves. Slavery was abhorrent. Get over your cry baby shit about it still existing.
@@lisaann2744 I can't get over it because those slaves were my ancestors. It is hard to reconcile the painful suffering endured by my ancestors in the hands of your ancestors. Today, if you think slavery is something to forget, you may just be ignoring the same suffering happening just before your eyes.
@@maxinemcclurd1288 Not only in Saudi but you will still see that across the world. There is a new kind of slavery. The rich with their money in relation to the kind of treatment received by the poor in need of a livelihood.
Shame on you haters! He shared a very personal journey here and obviously was moved to tears imagining the suffering his ancestors must have endured. it made me cry too. Why do you have to belittle and criticize this? Thank you Mr. Lemon for sharing something personal with us.
wmcroy3306 I think I clearly stated my position in my initial comment. My reply to your comment is true. People are going to hate and nothing I say is going to change their mind. To continue the conversation with those who feel no empathy, but choose to feel hate is not worth another minute of my time.
Larry Jensen hey Larry I don't know why I am writting this to you, but you remind me of exactly what I experienced today at church. I am black, went to my home welcoming new hope church today, its a white community Church, but exception is welcoming all types of humans you can think of. And because of today being week of Martin Luther King, the pastor was preaching how the people who love Jesus, wanting reconciliation with God, those wanting to carry the cross can be followers! And the example was how you can love the other skin different from you, even thought you believe they are not human in some way, or think negative about them in any way and want to be part of them even though many are being against you! He said not to listen to the political TV's out there which are so many with their agenda but try to listen to the story of those people directly! That is what you did, and it just moved me too, that we still have people like you in this world, who have humanity!
My heart wept, when I saw the "Door of no return." I can't imagine the fear that was in my ancestors heart!! Taken from their homes, of the familiars, to places unknown!!😢🥺😔💔
It's still happening today just in a different way they disrespecting us shooting us down in the street but look at it this way you are resilient keep on going they talking about put the card the away. President is one of them pulled the card out.
@milamarie95 I was raised buy a stepmother Italian since I was two years old can't say I was never discriminated. But I see police go to the wrong apartment thinking it's theirs and kill someone at least that's what they say. Guy selling cigarettes they choke him to death guy look into a vacant building and get killed show of all these things bad that these people have done it didn't carry the death. So I don't have no pity cause of one ever run up on me that's his ass. But you can sit back and talk when you stop fake time to suck the nearest Dick's near I am going back to where I came from your mom house
If you're in Africa. Isn't slavery still existing? I hope you're not a slave I know africa is rough place to live with capitalism slaving those with less.
@@AnastasiaBeaverhousn you think that the slavery is only about black people, Not true ,the little girls solde in the sex markets are not black, the Isis slaves are not black and many others stories
@@samiadjitli439 where did I say it was I said THIS was about Blacks!! Can't let us have a fucking moment for NOTHING!! Black's ALWAYS have to mention EVERYONE!!!🙄 FOH
I've visited this castle before and you just can't hold back the tears😭 it's a great thing to have the blessing of being able to look for our African roots
I really lost it, when the Guide spoke about the 2 bodies exhumed, one from my country, Jamaica. I WISH this was longer!! Thank you Don, this was truly profound for me.
@Larry Andrews- so it’s funny? laugh like some do when some of you go through the gates of hell. That’s ok- some will return the favor and laugh at you too
❤I'm just a Swedish guy, but I wish to give all my love to all those who fell victim to the evil of the European expansion in to the Americas, Asia, middle East and Africa.❤ I hope we will be able to heal together as one human race.❤
This is what we all need to do. Have a reverence and seek to educate ourselves and acknowledge our past even when it's uncomfortable. Thank you for your openheartedness and playing a part in all of us healing from our pasts, as none of our ancestors have been blameless.
Captain Napkin You just destroyed Truth B Told's attempt at conciliation with a few care-less words. That was probably your intention, whites are the perpetual innocents, and it illustrates why black and white can never, ever live harmoniously on Earth. Something's got to give, and the planet will decide.
What's important here, is as Don said, we came from a people who were survivors so we have no excuse for not succeeding in this world. No matter what we're going through, it can't compare to what our ancestors went through. We really CAN make it if we try!
TheWonderfulKushite we survived, but we are traumatized, and we still pass that trauma on. Not only in our culture, our subconscious behavior, mannerisms, but even our genes, and even our health. We as a people, need more than just to survive, first we need to COMPLETELY heal the trauma to the point so that we stop passing it to the next generation. And we need to stop falling for obvious plots schemes and tricks by certain melanin deficient people and their accomplices. And we must start taking notes on successful ethnic groups and how they achieve that success, the first tip is that we invest in OURSELVES, and stop double crossing each other, and stop giving outsiders preferential treatment. The other thing is we need to use that one drop rule to our advantage, and bring EVERYONE close!! And increase our political power!! Surviving is nice but thriving is MUCH better! And crushing the very people targeting us is WONDERFUL!!
Scoring57 It's funny how people read the whole paragraph but just decided to focus on survive...he is basically saying if they suffered through the worst what makes us feel we cannot succeed in any situation. We can not a hard thing to decode...
We are the descendants of those who didn't get killed or withered away. That doesn't make us better. A LOT of us didn't make it not because of weakness but because we were purposely destroyed.
Exactly. This was, as they all are, very moving. Seeing people go back to their roots. Our young black kids need to be funded to take a trip to Africa.
As an African my heart goes out to all those who were held captive and who died in the process of slavery...knowing your root is very important and I pray Don lemon gets peace after this journey. ..
Sai Chung It means that you're responsible for the crap that your white ancestors did and that no matter what you do, you're still benefitting off of the blood and sweat of deceased people of color
@@srm5723 my friend, slavery was there long time b4 the white man came but was due to inter tribal wars But pls dont compare it with the trans Atlantic slave trade because it is completely different. The Africans tribal wars bring war captives but they treat them as humans and integrate them into thier families but which the Europeans came they obviously use tricks, manipulations,deception, division and weapons to promote their human trade and goods.There was many battles between the Africans and the European invaders so if you care to do ur research. They tried, they fought so hard but yes there few corrupt individuals who may help the European invaders But you are trying to put every African in one basket which is completely wrong and ignorant.
They whites invaded Africa with ammunitions and used force and kidnapped our brothers and enslaved them.their sins can never be forgiven and today there is still that differences between white and African Americans I pity our African Americans because they have been thru alot
Jesus that is so silly. A part of your heart is broken? Lol, stop making yourself the victim hhaha. My dad fled colonization from africa by the french, that has nothing to do with me. He hates the french, I love the french. I understand that he harbors hatred because of HIS experience but that is not MY experience. Stop pretending like you were a part of the enslavement of african americans. By pretending that you somehow have anything to do with other peoples enslavement you make other people feel as though they have anything to do with the enslaving of african americans. Its stupid. You grew up in privilege that you can not understand, the privilege of writing on a youtube comment while people are litteraly being sold of as slaves in Libya by non-whites for other non-whites.
STFU 3 you are painting with a broad brush. definitely not all, some were and that was for self preservation. The Europeans were behind it as they did profit from it not only in North America, but in central, south, and the Caribbean as well. There were Rival tribes that may have been willing participants be it by greed or were coerced to take part in it. One thing is to be captured and enslaved, but the inhumane treatment of the European towards the Africans for hundreds of years is diabolic to say the least. Think about the mental distress, physical abuse, public humiliation, the displacement of families, the Rap and torture all committed by Whites, then jim crow.
Our Ancestors may be absent physically but they are always here guiding us...if we're listening!!! 😊 The soul and the spirit which is energy can never be destroyed. God our Creator is thee source and connection of all energy. 😊
Try reading the holy scriptures, Isaiah ch 45:7. Oh, Jesus Christ is also white. Maybe you should use some of your magic and make it all go away? Worshiping false gods will put you in bondage every time. Hey, maybe God put the black people in bondage because of their black magic, voo doo , or sinful life? Use your magic and make it all go away!
i am a South African watching your video brought me to tears! I am devoted to the door of our return!!! We are survivors of hatred unleashed against our blackness! Our beautiful blackness!!
Hi Don I am from Jamaica and like to track my family I think from Scotland my family name is Wilson I try and not get any where please can you help God bless
Good day Clara, I hope you are doing OK my beautiful sister, unfortunately I'm not Don Lemon, I'm also trying to trace the roots of my ancestors. I will try to find out what institutions can assist you to trace your family in Scotland. Love and light my sister. Keep well.
This is sad that we even have to play jigsaw puzzle to figure this out. Our lineage. Our names. Just this alone should garner more respect for the Blacks of America and the Caribbean.
Are you serious? You think only Blacks have a lineage. Not many people know much about their ancestors beyond their grandparents. I knew only my Grandfather on my mother's side, grandmother died when I was 3-4, others dead before I was born. Lemon's lucky---looks like the white woman did the research for him.
K Stewart Yes I'm serious. How could I remotely think that people of color are the only ones with a lineage? We aren't in this world alone. Sorry for the lack of historical resources in your family. Looks like "the white lady" did the research for him ☺ that's the energy I was waiting for. NOW, what did you say that particular sentence to imply? Because that same type of inferior blanketing you're poorly attempting to throw subliminally is the same way our lineage and our indigenous names were erased. If your people came here as a Barr Dichara, or a Weiss.. They stayed as that. We did not. My family in PR nor my family here have their proper last names, tracing blacks of america and the Caribbean origin is nearly impossible. That was my point, what was yours again?
Alana Corbella and your mixed with an outrageous nasty dispicable mouth. Im most certain you aren't married and if you are your husband secretly disdains you for this behavior. If you are too young to marry change your masculine ways its a disgrace to women EVERYWHERE! However I know you aren't well read. You can be whatever you like. Being 11 different things is of no consequence to me. I have a mixture as well. Thats not the point. Its about not knowing your past hun, its about the systematic hiding of our lineage changing our names by force and removing our identity whether it be indigenous or africanized. You wouldn't get that tho, you are too busy being a foul mouthed disrespectful mean agressive woman whom lacks comprehension. Smh, be safe Alana! Lol.... I enjoyed the singing and your "dreadlocs" very interesting to say the least! Lol.😉
"[you] think black people are the only ones who dont know their past": you also like to use the straw man fallacy in your arguments? Tell me. Where Mamirica said "blacks are the only people who do not know their past"?
I'm watching this through UA-cam and I am crying and I got COLD shivers up my spine. The feeling of WATCHING it is indescribable. Being there... Dear Lord...
I'm white and I don't think I could. This place needs to be regarded in the same way as the concentration camps in Europe. What these people went through was probably worse than the Holocaust because the Holocaust was over rather quickly and the people who survived were free, yet with their wounds. What the slaves went through here essentially marked them and their descendants with the mark of inferiority in the societies they went to. Almost none of them were ever free, they died while still being tortured as slaves. Then several generations of their children went through the same exact thing, often being ripped from their families. Even after the slaves were 'freed' they still lived in inferiority for 100 more years; several generations more. Then the last 60 years have brought progress but the scars are still there. And it will probably take 200 more years until racism at the institutional, mental, and biological levels are transcended. It is as if the Holocaust lasted for hundreds of years, and THAT is why this place deserves more attention and respect.
We are all humans living on a beautiful in danger planet called 🌎 Earth. We are all brothers and sisters. We all have a heart that pumps blood that runs red. Love each other Please.
BeCouse it's all about money But Compation let's you sleep so much Better instead of Hardening your Hart playing like 1 day you want DIE we all have to pay for his or her SINS in the hour of judgement from him who made this whole world ELOHIM not Lucifer. Speaking the truth Lord's way
Passage in time l am from the UK..been to Africa & Caribbean. Many times been treated differently in all countries The UK treated met the worst as racism is silent as it loads up the jail with black male & females Lot of work to be done.
King Leopold of Belgium killed over 15 million Africans but everybody talks about how Hitler killed 6 million Jews and that number is only small compared to the rest of the colonizers went to Africa and enslaved
It's important that the young learn, they will work together better.. But in the country the UK where l was born, the racism in the schools, the red ling that goes on. According to ones post code for getting a mortgage, is outlandish. Since this Country had the worst Slavery history in the world. The Aftermath is dread. I pray for my child & my children's children. Let's not live on fear..but again knowledge and love one another.. Some times the younger ones, got to tell the older ones what to to.. Racism has to stop otherwise there will be Hell Fire...x
"Don lemon, growing up in the sixties," oh my! He does look young for his age now after 5 years. I was not even around in the sixties and he looks just as young as I do and young at heart to.
Ummm Yeah!!!💖... And Don looks Absolutely AMAZING as well💙🤗.... He Obviously got her Genes... Just look at him... Now in his 50's, He looks maybe... Early Thirties!!??😍😙🤗😉... And he has a... "Heart of Gold"!!!💖🤗😍😃😙😉... God Bless You Don!!!💖... And your Entire long line of Family!!!💖😃😄😍🤗😉
why don't you forward it to the millions of whites who think slavery/servitude is the vocation of Africans. That would do more social good. #Charlottesville
I wish I could get Don to talk to my 98 year old mom. She's from Port Allen and when asked if she knew any of Don's people, she said, "I knew all of them. I grew up with them." She named his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and specific events.
@@ronalddennis5229 he doesn't know. Which is why he said he HOPE theyve met in heaven. You're too busy trying to be a jerk you just made your self look like a jackass.
@@The.Whoever YOU WONT BE DISRESPECTED BY ME IM MATURE BUT ALL YOU RELIGIOUS PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY WHEN SOMEONE DIES THEIR IN HEAVEN WHAT A SAD REPETITIOUS BELIEF. YOU SHEEP KEEPING FOLLOWING THESES WOLFS
Ronald Dennis how do you know there’s no heaven? What proof do you have that it don’t exist You should go somewhere else to vent about religion, this ain’t the place
Don I love this... so beautiful of you and your mom searching your roots... you are such a sweet person... and I love your affection towards your mom... my son and I are like that too.
Thank you Don and mum for this fascinating documentary. My parents are from Jamaica and when the guide mention that the bodies of two former slaves had been returned one from America and one from Jamaica. When he said Jamaica I had shivers all over and became very emotional. Let us not forget where we are coming from and let us never be ashamed. We are survivors. Blessings.
When I saw those words at the door reminded me of a town, several miles away from dar es salaam, Tanzania named bagamoyo. This town was known as bwagamoyo literally meaning " leave your heart behind or dump your heart" . it is said to be the last port that slaves shipped across the world would see their home for the last time. Their hearts tightened with resolve to endure and leave an everlasting love to this beautiful land of Tanzania. As a Tanzanian, I salute them..
@milamarie95 ooo so you think you make less money because of black folk? I think ma'am you should recheck facts, things like oils gaints, corrupt management, drug patent ownership, selling $8 hiv medicine for $2000, selling $10 insulin for $200, selling $13 machine part for thousands to the military!!! Now you see who's really taking the money? And the thing about 10 kids.....on average a black women had 2.5 kids and a white women has 2.3 kids...so plz ma'am look at the facts first and then make statements
@milamarie95 and ma'am I'm sorry to say but trump isn't coming agian for 4 years in the office..... That's also a survey done by trusted organisations...... people want Bernie Sanders or Joe biden.....it's just sad
Grace Scott loosing your name, language and your culture was where the white man won. The only way African in diaspora will win is to get their culture language and names back. Give back the Whiteman his slavemaster name, his language and culture. Christianity is the only true religion of the most high. But he created us in our culture for a reason. We can change who we worship because the spirit has no culture, that's why God brought Christianity to Africa. But we can't chance who our flesh is. GOD created us that way for a reason. In summary Obey and revere the Spirit of the bible and BE proud of your africaness because God created you as that embrace it. EMBRACING the Hebrew falsehood is part of the satanic agenda to oppose the genetic God put your spirit in and replacing it with a fake falsehood. The main agenda of satanic Hebrews falsehood is to keep you focused on mindless rituals and practises pertaining to the flesh. Everything is about the flesh , with falsehood cults. But as in Ephesians 2 Yashua fulfilled the law and all it rituals. Now we need to focus on the spirit is praising God, praying and communal with God, practising goodness and kindness and letting our spirit bring the culture of heaven here in the flesh (earth). Our spirits come from God and enter the flesh good as you can see in babies. It's other spirits that are already in flesh and have learned evil that teach the child evil hence pushing goodness away from the child.
juju onthatbeat I agree but not so much with Christianity. Its been corrupted by Europeans. The min we accepted foreign religion we were domed.neither Islam or Christianity belongs in Africa!. I am Ethiopian my ancestors converted to Christianity rt around the 3rd century that's before Europeans. The axumite ruler made it an official religion and the people didn't question about it. They simply converted. What was so bad about thier previous religion they had to convert!?...
@monique bedford u can trace your root back to Africa and know your heritage most of u hate your fellow blacks africans but not knowing u are afrrica too ask yourself why the refer u as African America
😢😢😢 every time I watch videos of African Americans tracing their ancestry, I get emotional. My sister gifted me a DNA kit a year ago, the results truly changed me. As a Latina, I ALWAYS knew there was no doubt I had African in my blood. You could see it clear as day when looking at my parents. My mother, Dominican. My father, Puerto Rican....one light skinned , the other black. I would always tell ppl my father was black bc that’s what I saw. As I got older and learned it was when I began to see more clearly. My maternal grandfather, black Dominican , my maternal grandmother, white Dominican. Paternal grandparents: Black I have never been more proud! As it turns out, through my DNA test, I am 33% of African decent. Mainly from the Ghana region. 23% European, Spanish region. Smaller percentage Indian...from the islands (Taino/Arawak) I long to visit Ghana, I just know I need to emotionally, prepare myself. I have an inner need to walk in my ancestors land, feel the soil beneath my bare feet, feel the water on my skin, the air in my lungs. One day!!!
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood
I'm ashamed of my American ancestors for what they have done in the past 200 years. Slavery, Trail of Tears and Hiroshima. I can only now love and make the future hopeful.
Martha I feel the same. Half of my ancestors are similar to yours. If there was more people like you and me this world would be a better place to live in. Thank you for your post.⚘
@@sunshinedoesit8272the half has never been told such ashamed to see how God created us and we all turned aside and fighting over color of our skin it shouldn't be but it's what it is but Ethiopia will spread out its wing Black people just have to get up,Stand up for the right and dont give up until they get it right
Aren't black people tired of finding Solace and being resolved in the fact our ancestor survived? No i reject that. We owe it to our ancestor to thrive....Force America to deal with racial inequality once and for all. So racism and discrimination can be a thing of the past. So our children are not left with the task of combating the same issues our ancestors dealt with!
Gidget Trevathon I honestly i don't know! But like all things, it can be accomplished if we are willing to work hard for it and sacrifice for it! Whatever is man made can be undone! We've done enough praying and enough hoping! Its time to execute a plan that will bring about the end of 'Inequality' once and for all!
purepotential7 inequality is a by product of human bias. We don't have to combat people's personal perceptions and biases. Just develop a system in which including personal bias has an adverse effect when making decisions. Thereby rendering personal biases null when making communal decisions. As in the case of a Police traffic stop or allocation of a cities budget or education etc etc etc.... For too long we've tried to control the social narrative. Relying on the hope that the next generation will be more socially progressive then the previous. And we have made some advancements but it's time to put this thing to bed once and for all.
@milamarie95 Oh, Ok since you commanded it (wink wink). Then too, I've used my wasted time allotment for the day, toying with you. Troll on & toodles. 💕
Am an African from the Southern end of Africa. It's heart wrenching when you read and hear stories about slavery and what the ancestors of African Americans had to go through. My only issue is the collective blame by some that Africans sold their kith and kin into slavery. Africa is a continent, and it has a history and the history of Africa is not homogeneous. West African history is different from East Africa as it is from Southern Africa. People think the history of Africa started with colonialism! There were African Kingdoms already in existence. I can loudly proclaim that my ancestors were never taken as slaves and never sold anyone into slavery! In fact they resisted European occupation for a long time. East Africans were taken as slaves by the Arabs to the Arabian countries. Again you can't accuse them of selling African Americans into slavery. Most African Americans came from West Africa and Central Africa. And it's not like even those people were wholly complicity in the slave trade. Queen Nzinge in the Angolas fought against the Portuguese slave traders. Google her up! and there are many others. Not all Africans, just like not all Europeans, were involved in the slave trade.
Thank you. I think that the complicity of Africans selling other Africans into slavery is an issue that is brought up to try to lessen the impact of the European role in the slave trade(it can't). The Transatlantic slave trade was created and driven by the Europeans and their economy. There is another similar issue that is brought up to muddy the issue of slavery in america. That there were African Americans who owned slaves. They neglect to mention that during slavery times when African Americans were considered property, the only way that they could get their family members, was if they were able to buy them, so many times African -americans bought their family members away from the plantations, and they were recorded as their slaves.
History is written and re-written to fit the narrative of the victors and their generations to come. The role of "complicity" by Africans in the slave trade is grossly overplayed. The reason why Europeans and Americans were so successful in over-hauling and subjugating the entire continent is not because of a universal lack of resistance by Africans. Even warring African nations resisted the white pestilence as best they could - but it was a portent of things to come - in that the playing field for war was never even or fair from the start. It remains the case broadly - even for generations that have since been melted into the American quilt and of course newer generations that have emigrated by hook or by crook to Europe. Where African leaders sold prisoners of war (from other African tribal opponents) to Europeans - that was more about pragmatics of both getting rid of a perceived threat/challenge - and also being recompensed for it - as well as surviving the incontestable law of the gun. Therein - also was America's love of the gun to self-protect born. To protect one's self against subjugation and be able to take up arms when necessary. No. In the main, the slave trade was the choice of either enabling genocide upon one's people - or being complicit in that survival was the only other alternative. Revisionists like to blame Africans - but don't buy the lie. It was always stacked in favour of those with the power to commit genocide.
It's funny how they never mention Africans who actually fought in Africa against the trade. For example Ana Nzinga. ua-cam.com/video/OVsFvnSEvj4/v-deo.html
Thank you so much for this video! The first time that I watched it, I was touched to tears. I recently received my own ancestry results and now know that my ancestors are from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal & Cameroon. So today I watched knowing that I had a relative who also walked through the Door Of No Return. My emotions are on a completely different level. I, too, am a survivor.
It is emotional, especially because the Ghanian guide was so thorough in conveying what harrowing things in that "castle." In terms of your ancestry, I think the countries aren't as important as the general area of Africa and tribes living there. The countries didn't exist during slavery and were drawn in the Berlin conference and some borders separated ethnicities. Senegal is far away from Cameroon and is full of ethnicities like the Wolof and Serer and Toucouleur where Ghana has Ashanti and Ga and Ewe and Nigeria has Hausa, Igbo, Yoroba and a number of smaller tribes (Ghana also has Hausa). Cameroon is pretty close to Nigeria but I'm not as up on their ethnicities. Of course, we may come from multiple tribes but DNA hasn't yet been able to truly pointpoint it (African Ancestry tries, but I'm not sure their results are totally accurate).
Don Lemon does look like his Great Grandfather. I can only imagine how he must feel. Going back and reflecting on his Ancestors that made it out of such a horrible dungeon! I cried for him and myself as well!
Don looks freakishly like his Great Grandfather! In order for America to truly heal, Blacks and Whites need to stop calling themselves "blacks and whites" and use this modern day technology to reveal the truth of our true identity. People hide from the truth because it will make all of us look like fools when unveiled.
@@domineer388 There is a lot of mixture in most African Americans. African Americans are mostly African but 22 percent European is not insignificant. And certain black people can resemble their white relatives of generations back.
They should have posted a disclaimer prior to this video. It touched my soul seeing the places where our ancestors were forced. All I could think of was sadness and then the tears began to flow.
This was so real ... never seen this before. What our ancestors had to go through before getting a ship to a life of misery and pain! Absolutely horrifying😥
I'm from Ghana and i always say, all african americans must endeavour to visit their motherland at least once in their lifetime to have a real understanding. You will have a better perspective of who you are and your identity. I encourage you to do that.
@Rodney Norman you are always welcome. We had the "Year of Return" last year. This year was supposed to be "Beyond Return" but unfortunately i don't think the covid-19 will make it possible so you can prepare for next year.
I didn't know Don was born in the 60s he looks like his on his twenties. This video was such a blessing and sad. I love my ancestors for what they have done for me. I 💘 Africa. THE Mother land
I think everyone should have this experience as a part of their education. How many would believe that they have More than one ethnicity in their blood. We are all connected. One human race.
My Campbell cousin took a ancestry DNA test and to our surprise she was 5% African.Just shows how the Irish almost conquered the world,then God introduced whisky.
Don Lemon and his mom's visit to Ghana's Cape Coast Castle reminds me of the many African Slave captive untold stories - even my own families untold stories. I say thank you to Don and his family for their personal shared account.
Mina Diop please please and ease again if you don't know what really happened during slavery at the time, don't come here and speak nonsense, "Africans sold other Africans" crap
The selling of slaves was done by a small percent of Africans. The Africans that sold Blacks for slavery sent factions they were at war against. And again you are talking a small percentage. The Africans that sold other Africans were themselves also kidnapped and brought to America. It's a peeve to see some whites (racist ones) and Blacks (self hating ones who sometimes claim they are not even African) believe the bogus idea that slaves were sold into slavery by Blacks and not whites. No. White people had NO right to kidnap people from the own countries and bring them to America where they had their culture, their children and freedom taken away from them. Regardless of who sold whom, Africans weren't steering the slave ships. Africans weren't chaining other Africans together to drown to lessen the weight on the ships.
Emotional.Thousands of Africanos were brought to Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 and the Caribbean by the British’s and Spaniards🇪🇸. In my case I’am light skin blue eyes and had an Afro and proud now i’m bald. My Parents are from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 and I was born in Brooklyn N.Y.
Most enslaved Africans wound up in Latin world. Overstand that Brooklyn had the biggest plantation in Slave built New York City and that Coney Island was a slave port. As you insert yourself into the American slave trade narrative, keep in mind the racism brought to foundational Black Americans who could not leave the state of New York by law because they were too valuable. This means that after establishing this nation, this NYC, that D.C., falling first in Revolutionary War, Blacks were trapped here only to endure racist hatred from every immigrant group including Puerto Ricans.
Don Lemon presents himself as a professional journalist on CNN. I applaud him for always demanding and requiring the truth. He is a fine human being. I know his mom is so proud of him. As a mom myself with adult children I can only imagine how proud his mom must be of him. He is certainly candy eye for CNN. Thanks CNN I love you and I watch you all the time. Stay Blessed all of you.
Imagine being held in complete darkness for 3 months and then that big door opening into blinding sunlight, not knowing what was going to happen next. It's just heartbreaking!
They r all in heaven now with their maker. I will be indebted to that generation for all their struggles and hard work to make this world a better place for everyone.
They should've been taken to the other castle right by the cape coast castle - the Elmina castle. That castle has a lot more history, including the grounds where slave women were lined up for the governor to choose one to rape, the tiny room where resistant slaves were kept in and starved to death, and the second door of no return, which is so small, you had to go through sideways. Also, it has the cell where my queen, Yaa Asantewaa, (bless her soul) was held. I'm Ghanaian and I visit each castle as often as I can because this is a part of my history, even though my ancestors weren't taken away.
My mother visited that place as a missionary to Accra & Kamisi and took a picture there. When she gave it to me at 13 ... I wept uncontrollably. So much pain .... I consistently ask God ... WHY???
Nana Esi Okyere-N. Maybe they were shown the place where their specific ancestors most likely passed through based on their research of things like the ship manifest, etc.
@@lolalove6141 Racism? If your ancestors heard that, they would scoff and ask why you so lazy. They worked hundreds of years to give those with darker skin opportunities to change everything and yet your standing here with oppurtunities your ancestors couldent dream of getting, but all your saying is 'give me free stuff cuz my ancestors suffered'
Africa is still a mess. We must fix Our continent to allow our brothers abroad to come back home. They have already endured a lot even though it isn’t yet perfect for them tthere in USA too.
Poor harry. So wonderful that he actually was trying and wanted to be a father to his black daughter, and so so different from most people like him. Wow don you look like your grandma. Your mom is so awesome 💕 and you are so cool, and what a snack. im in love
Dear Benjamin. Please come home. Come to Africa. It’s a rich continent with great people. Don’t believe the negative news the media tells you about Africa. Come and see for yourself. We love you, dear brother.
Watching Don overcome by emotion propelled me back to my won walk through the transhipment point on James Island off the coast of The Gambia. I could not stop crying. I was not there to research my ancestry but it felt like I was. The air, felt heavy - thick with the souls of the slaves who died there, and I had this image of them all being my relatives. Every single one. I cried as much watching this feature, as I did then. What a powerful piece. And what a beautiful journey to take with your own mother. The symbolism here speaks volumes.
The sad thing is that slavery is still going on in Africa today and the slave master number one is France. You ask how; well, slavery was followed by colonization of African territories. I guess due to the industrial revolution, slaves were not needed as much any more but the natural resources were still in high demand. European countries brutally colonized African countries killing anyone who opposed them. So eventually in the 60s they figured, instead of fighting all these wars trying to hold onto territory in Africa, why don't we just give these countries pseudo independence whereby we install figure head leaders in power and force them to use our currencies (Franc CFA) where we determine the cost of the good that we buy from them and they have no say. Whenever there is any attempt to overthrow one of our figure head leaders, we send troops under the pretence of humanitarian efforts. The president of Cameroon is a puppet of France and he has been there since 1982 (35 years). He will stay there till he dies as long as France keeps protecting him and draining Cameroon's natural resources at practically no cost. Any rebellion against him is a rebellion against France, good luck winning that war. In essence, Cameroon and other African countries have been stuck in the dungeon (pictured in this video) since the days of slavery. There is so much more to this story from a social aspect also but I will leave it there for now. So if anyone ever wondered why African economies are where they are today and relies racist narratives to arrive at answers, read this comment and abstain from shallow thinking driven racism or racist views
Africa: never given credit for being the first home of humankind, and just as well never given credit for the development of human civilization and upon whose shoulders the rest of the world's civilizations necessarily stands. Until the economic infrastructures of colonialism are truly destroyed and Africans are free to determine their own futures, Africa, the richest resourced continent on earth will continue to be one of the continents that has the least economic development.
@mbandi I'm with you so do not take this wrong!! Seriously who doesn't know that by now? when people say why dont african countries fair better than they do with all of the natural resources they have and the world wants? hasn't anybody looked into that on their own? Why do they think most african countries have foriegn languages as their official languages they have been colonized and surely they should know what that means by now!!! It is i guess far too easy to sit on the sofa and get all of your biased info from american news lol!! Black people we will stay like this forever if we do not educate ourselves on what is going on for us the world over not just in america and start to do something about it!!
I do not but it! It is corruption instead which is why Israel control the US. No Africans are free to so whatever they want in their countries! France has only an economic power and if Africans work hard they can escape that economic dependency!
Don Lemon, thank you so much for taking me through a journey to find your roots. I teared and cried, too. The inhumane treatment of people is beyond comprehension! No one should exalt himself above any other!
@DeGrate1896 They keep spreading that nonsense and people are starting to buy it. How many tribal wars was going on in Africa to have thousands of people shipped off into slavery. There are numerous history documented about africans resisting colonial rule. Europeans fought with African and since they had better weapons were able to capture the Africans and enslave them. That is what happened. If anyone wants to understand what happened, they have to start their research from the beginning and the wars that were fought between Africans and the Europeans who were lead or motivated by greed.
@@arabaanaman It is a fact that Africans for the massively most part captured fellow Africans to sell into slavery. Europeans would arrive on the coast with guns, alcohol, cheap trinkets and the Africans would hand over human beings in exchange for a gun, a bottle of rum or some cheap trinkets. The only people who deny this are pan African people and some Africans themselves. They deny, not because they really believe it did not happen, they deny because they simply cannot imagine Africans treating other Africans in such disgusting ways. Up to 20 million people were shipped to the Americas. Even today no power on earth could forcibly move so many people without massive internal help, and this is a help that the Africans enthusiastically engaged in.
Am Kenyan and this makes me understand why many black people who left Africa as a result of slavery are mostly bitter, the story of slavery is passed to generations and the cycle continues. This just broke my heart
we're mostly bitter?? Our Black joy is all over the world and has made all nations sparkle, we give y'all LIFE. Just because we are rightfully and righteously angry and grieving and demanding justice as well does not make us "bitter". Don't tone police us.
When your own African people can sell my ancestors for guns and beads how are we supposed to feel but I love being from the Caribbean, it is my identity as an Afro- Caribbean female and will never identify with Africans or Europeans, ever. Caribbean forever
Cherry Love I was hoping ghana as well. My DNA revealed Nigeria. Which was interesting considering my sister and I visited Nigeria 10 years before I took the DNA test. I just feel I have a stronger connection to the people from Ghana.
I can't help but cry, as he describe the horrible conditions slaves endured. When people make statements about why do you care what happen so long ago. My answer "The spirit of my Ancestors flow within me!! I carry not only their DNA, but also their pain and fear. In that dark, cold , Godless place one of my Ancestors survived for me to have life, I am their hope. I will never forget, what my Ancestor endured for me to live. So, my tears flow for their pain, but also for gratitude.
Beautiful! ❤
I truly detest when ppl want us to get over slavery.
The affects of slavery lasted well beyond the 1800's
My Grandmother told many stories of the past.
She passed away recently at age 96.
She was born of a blk/Jamaican mother and German father who chose his white family over his two kids and my great-grandmother.
The nerve of the white minority being racist in the Caribbean.
I may open a can of worms by searching for info on my ancestors but it's something Ive always wanted to do. I suspect my journey (like Don) will end in Ghana
John Hanson.. Obvious you dwell in the swamp along with your orange POS, Devils Spawn!
Soul Sister You are my SOUL SISTA 💞
Soul Sister:
So Awesomely n Eloquently written.
Slavery was the worst thing ever to happen to humanity. Yet today, it is not finish.
I couldn't help crying especially knowing slavery still exists in the world.How can people close their eyes to Saudi Arabia's support of slavery today,why do civilized countries still do business with them?Such evil in this world.
How can ppl that didn’t own slaves, owe ppl anything that were never slaves themselves. Slavery was abhorrent. Get over your cry baby shit about it still existing.
@@lisaann2744 I can't get over it because those slaves were my ancestors. It is hard to reconcile the painful suffering endured by my ancestors in the hands of your ancestors. Today, if you think slavery is something to forget, you may just be ignoring the same suffering happening just before your eyes.
@@maxinemcclurd1288 Not only in Saudi but you will still see that across the world. There is a new kind of slavery. The rich with their money in relation to the kind of treatment received by the poor in need of a livelihood.
In Mauritania slavery still exist there
Shame on you haters! He shared a very personal journey here and obviously was moved to tears imagining the suffering his ancestors must have endured. it made me cry too. Why do you have to belittle and criticize this? Thank you Mr. Lemon for sharing something personal with us.
For starters watch some of Lemon's debates and you see why he getting criticize alot
Haters are gonna hate.
That's all you got to say is "haters going to hate"......pathetic lol
wmcroy3306 I think I clearly stated my position in my initial comment. My reply to your comment is true. People are going to hate and nothing I say is going to change their mind. To continue the conversation with those who feel no empathy, but choose to feel hate is not worth another minute of my time.
Susie
4:30 *that "WAYS" was the cutest mother son moment ever* ♥️
That was definitely a very moving journey, Don! Thank you for allowing us to experience it with you!
Larry Jensen hey Larry I don't know why I am writting this to you, but you remind me of exactly what I experienced today at church. I am black, went to my home welcoming new hope church today, its a white community Church, but exception is welcoming all types of humans you can think of. And because of today being week of Martin Luther King, the pastor was preaching how the people who love Jesus, wanting reconciliation with God, those wanting to carry the cross can be followers! And the example was how you can love the other skin different from you, even thought you believe they are not human in some way, or think negative about them in any way and want to be part of them even though many are being against you! He said not to listen to the political TV's out there which are so many with their agenda but try to listen to the story of those people directly! That is what you did, and it just moved me too, that we still have people like you in this world, who have humanity!
My heart wept, when I saw the "Door of no return." I can't imagine the fear that was in my ancestors heart!! Taken from their homes, of the familiars, to places unknown!!😢🥺😔💔
Dorothy Bailey I have 2 Afro-Latino grandfathers and honestly can’t imagine what happened to some of my ancestors in Puerto Rico
get to know more about my beloved sister, an from mom's land gh 🇬🇭 but outside home EU 🇪🇺
Brutality awaited them.😢😢😢
That is so touching ❤💔❤
So what. History is filled with atrocities. They're not the only ones who suffered throughout history. Get a life.
I am an African and I can't just stop feeling so sad everytime I hear the disgusting stories of slavery it just hurts. Deep deep wound. 😭😭😭😭😭😭
I’m Indian no connection to this history but couldn’t stop my tears!
It's still happening today just in a different way they disrespecting us shooting us down in the street but look at it this way you are resilient keep on going they talking about put the card the away. President is one of them pulled the card out.
I am not African,but I feel so sad and sorry for every single person who wok thru this door 😢🙏🏻
@milamarie95 I was raised buy a stepmother Italian since I was two years old can't say I was never discriminated. But I see police go to the wrong apartment thinking it's theirs and kill someone at least that's what they say. Guy selling cigarettes they choke him to death guy look into a vacant building and get killed show of all these things bad that these people have done it didn't carry the death. So I don't have no pity cause of one ever run up on me that's his ass. But you can sit back and talk when you stop fake time to suck the nearest Dick's near I am going back to where I came from your mom house
If you're in Africa. Isn't slavery still existing? I hope you're not a slave I know africa is rough place to live with capitalism slaving those with less.
Can’t stop my tears,and I don’t cry easily,I am an Afghan and irish .survivors
This is about Slavery of Black's!! Stop trying to make it about you!!
@@AnastasiaBeaverhousn she hasn’t said anything bad, Don’t Just be ignorant in everything!!!!
@@AnastasiaBeaverhousn ignorant.
@@AnastasiaBeaverhousn you think that the slavery is only about black people, Not true ,the little girls solde in the sex markets are not black, the Isis slaves are not black and many others stories
@@samiadjitli439 where did I say it was I said THIS was about Blacks!! Can't let us have a fucking moment for NOTHING!! Black's ALWAYS have to mention EVERYONE!!!🙄 FOH
I like the way he brought his mom along. I love my mommy to.
Me too
@larry andrews how are you
Thank you for sharing this, Don, and for sharing your mom with us! How wonderful that you were able to do that trip together.
I've visited Africa 3x but never to Ghana. I'm looking forward to going to Ghana & take one of my adult grandchildren with me.
I've visited this castle before and you just can't hold back the tears😭 it's a great thing to have the blessing of being able to look for our African roots
I've been to the Castle four times - so emotional.
I really lost it, when the Guide spoke about the 2 bodies exhumed, one from my country, Jamaica. I WISH this was longer!! Thank you Don, this was truly profound for me.
?Slavery is everywhere even in churches the only thing to do is to know the truth of Jesus and be sent free
There is no one who goes to that castle without sharing tears. 😭
Not true. Many have.
@Larry Andrews- so it’s funny? laugh like some do when some of you go through the gates of hell. That’s ok- some will return the favor and laugh at you too
@Larry Andrews: that's just too cruel to say!!!
@larry andrews yu laughed? Ive been there nd its not easy at all.
larry andrews your obviously lying and trying to stir shit up. Your a coward who hide behind a screen, your powerless , and broke
❤I'm just a Swedish guy, but I wish to give all my love to all those who fell victim to the evil of the European expansion in to the Americas, Asia, middle East and Africa.❤ I hope we will be able to heal together as one human race.❤
This is what we all need to do. Have a reverence and seek to educate ourselves and acknowledge our past even when it's uncomfortable. Thank you for your openheartedness and playing a part in all of us healing from our pasts, as none of our ancestors have been blameless.
Thank you. Many Europeans have hearts. Cant say the same for Americans
Well I mean blacks sold their own race
Captain Napkin
You just destroyed Truth B Told's attempt at conciliation with a few care-less words. That was probably your intention, whites are the perpetual innocents, and it illustrates why black and white can never, ever live harmoniously on Earth. Something's got to give, and the planet will decide.
I am from Barbados and I truly hope so too.
What's important here, is as Don said, we came from a people who were survivors so we have no excuse for not succeeding in this world. No matter what we're going through, it can't compare to what our ancestors went through. We really CAN make it if we try!
TheWonderfulKushite we survived, but we are traumatized, and we still pass that trauma on. Not only in our culture, our subconscious behavior, mannerisms, but even our genes, and even our health. We as a people, need more than just to survive, first we need to COMPLETELY heal the trauma to the point so that we stop passing it to the next generation. And we need to stop falling for obvious plots schemes and tricks by certain melanin deficient people and their accomplices. And we must start taking notes on successful ethnic groups and how they achieve that success, the first tip is that we invest in OURSELVES, and stop double crossing each other, and stop giving outsiders preferential treatment. The other thing is we need to use that one drop rule to our advantage, and bring EVERYONE close!! And increase our political power!! Surviving is nice but thriving is MUCH better! And crushing the very people targeting us is WONDERFUL!!
TheWonderfulKushite fact
Scoring57 It's funny how people read the whole paragraph but just decided to focus on survive...he is basically saying if they suffered through the worst what makes us feel we cannot succeed in any situation. We can not a hard thing to decode...
We are the descendants of those who didn't get killed or withered away. That doesn't make us better. A LOT of us didn't make it not because of weakness but because we were purposely destroyed.
Exactly. This was, as they all are, very moving. Seeing people go back to their roots. Our young black kids need to be funded to take a trip to Africa.
God help us. God heal every soul taken from Africa.
As an African my heart goes out to all those who were held captive and who died in the process of slavery...knowing your root is very important and I pray Don lemon gets peace after this journey. ..
+tyra smith I personally don't think he gives much of a sh*t
Didn't you guys sell the other Africans out to Europeans? lmao, your heart goes out?
Your ancestors' ass is as guilty as any others.
Sai Chung bullshit that's the lie you been told to lessen your white quilt facts.
Sounds like you're in denial, buddy.
And wtf is white quilt? So kind of fabric?
Sai Chung It means that you're responsible for the crap that your white ancestors did and that no matter what you do, you're still benefitting off of the blood and sweat of deceased people of color
I broke down in tears and cried when I saw the cave. I cannot stand what happened to my ancestors a part of my heart is always broken because of it.
Always mzuri sana, keep yo head up always take what's yours and be proud (mama Africa loves you)... bless
@@srm5723 my friend, slavery was there long time b4 the white man came but was due to inter tribal wars But pls dont compare it with the trans Atlantic slave trade because it is completely different. The Africans tribal wars bring war captives but they treat them as humans and integrate them into thier families but which the Europeans came they obviously use tricks, manipulations,deception, division and weapons to promote their human trade and goods.There was many battles between the Africans and the European invaders so if you care to do ur research. They tried, they fought so hard but yes there few corrupt individuals who may help the European invaders But you are trying to put every African in one basket which is completely wrong and ignorant.
They whites invaded Africa with ammunitions and used force and kidnapped our brothers and enslaved them.their sins can never be forgiven and today there is still that differences between white and African Americans
I pity our African Americans because they have been thru alot
mzurilove I cried with you
Jesus that is so silly. A part of your heart is broken? Lol, stop making yourself the victim hhaha. My dad fled colonization from africa by the french, that has nothing to do with me. He hates the french, I love the french. I understand that he harbors hatred because of HIS experience but that is not MY experience. Stop pretending like you were a part of the enslavement of african americans. By pretending that you somehow have anything to do with other peoples enslavement you make other people feel as though they have anything to do with the enslaving of african americans. Its stupid. You grew up in privilege that you can not understand, the privilege of writing on a youtube comment while people are litteraly being sold of as slaves in Libya by non-whites for other non-whites.
It should be mandatory that the United States help black Americans find their roots,,,, "for free"!
No1 Cares That's a great idea!
Queen Lacie Frazier-Dulaney
Ils doivent payer, tu dis quoi. Les noirs Américains et les Amérindiens doivent rester les bras croisés et obtenir des salaires gratuits à vie.
STFU 3 you are painting with a broad brush. definitely not all, some were and that was for self preservation. The Europeans were behind it as they did profit from it not only in North America, but in central, south, and the Caribbean as well. There were Rival tribes that may have been willing participants be it by greed or were coerced to take part in it. One thing is to be captured and enslaved, but the inhumane treatment of the European towards the Africans for hundreds of years is diabolic to say the least. Think about the mental distress, physical abuse, public humiliation, the displacement of families, the Rap and torture all committed by Whites, then jim crow.
*rape
That moment when Don's mom shed tears while visiting the slave castle was the most touching moment I've ever seen.
I think he should let Henry Louis Gates go deeper into his heritage.
I cried too.
@milamarie95 STFU. 😂😂😂😂 Anyhow now that I know lemon is a leftist I don't like him 😂
We are STRONG our ancestors survived that! I thank you ancestors...
I'm In Total Tears. How People Can Treat People Badly , Simply Base On The Color Of Their Skin. I Will Never Understand Till The Day I Die.
Marvin Carted jews are responsible for this not white people
Our Ancestors may be absent physically but they are always here guiding us...if we're listening!!! 😊 The soul and the spirit which is energy can never be destroyed. God our Creator is thee source and connection of all energy. 😊
Try reading the holy scriptures, Isaiah ch 45:7. Oh, Jesus Christ is also white. Maybe you should use some of your magic and make it all go away? Worshiping false gods will put you in bondage every time. Hey, maybe God put the black people in bondage because of their black magic, voo doo , or sinful life? Use your magic and make it all go away!
Also read Isaiah 11: 11-12, Gen 15:12-14
That’s why we have to be against Trump and how he is treating immigrants on the Southern Border.
i am a South African watching your video brought me to tears! I am devoted to the door of our return!!! We are survivors of hatred unleashed against our blackness! Our beautiful blackness!!
My people have been through hell! They won't break us, the spirit of our ancestors lives through us.
Hi Don I am from Jamaica and like to track my family I think from Scotland my family name is Wilson I try and not get any where please can you help God bless
Good day Clara, I hope you are doing OK my beautiful sister, unfortunately I'm not Don Lemon, I'm also trying to trace the roots of my ancestors. I will try to find out what institutions can assist you to trace your family in Scotland. Love and light my sister. Keep well.
@ARCompilations You are the worst thing that could have happened to humanity
@ARCompilations that's not how you are supposed to talk to your daddy 🤣🤣🤣🤣
My people??!!🙄 Oh please Africans don't even speak to Black's in America.. FOH
Very touching! I am from Switzerland, from a poor background. But I was always FREE! Thank you Don and your Mom, to let me see this!
Everyone commenting here is free too.. Are you stupid?
@@penzancegunner857 Hes referring to slavery..you are the stupid one..
Yes but this families send
Them to America to work
Many inherited the big
Farms from the south
This is sad that we even have to play jigsaw puzzle to figure this out. Our lineage. Our names. Just this alone should garner more respect for the Blacks of America and the Caribbean.
Are you serious? You think only Blacks have a lineage. Not many people know much about their ancestors beyond their grandparents. I knew only my Grandfather on my mother's side, grandmother died when I was 3-4, others dead before I was born. Lemon's lucky---looks like the white woman did the research for him.
K Stewart Yes I'm serious. How could I remotely think that people of color are the only ones with a lineage? We aren't in this world alone. Sorry for the lack of historical resources in your family. Looks like "the white lady" did the research for him ☺ that's the energy I was waiting for. NOW, what did you say that particular sentence to imply? Because that same type of inferior blanketing you're poorly attempting to throw subliminally is the same way our lineage and our indigenous names were erased. If your people came here as a Barr Dichara, or a Weiss.. They stayed as that. We did not. My family in PR nor my family here have their proper last names, tracing blacks of america and the Caribbean origin is nearly impossible. That was my point, what was yours again?
Alana Corbella and your mixed with an outrageous nasty dispicable mouth. Im most certain you aren't married and if you are your husband secretly disdains you for this behavior. If you are too young to marry change your masculine ways its a disgrace to women EVERYWHERE!
However I know you aren't well read. You can be whatever you like. Being 11 different things is of no consequence to me. I have a mixture as well. Thats not the point. Its about not knowing your past hun, its about the systematic hiding of our lineage changing our names by force and removing our identity whether it be indigenous or africanized. You wouldn't get that tho, you are too busy being a foul mouthed disrespectful mean agressive woman whom lacks comprehension. Smh, be safe Alana! Lol.... I enjoyed the singing and your "dreadlocs" very interesting to say the least! Lol.😉
"Are you serious? You think only Blacks have a lineage": Straw man fallacy. Come on man. Try again.
"[you] think black people are the only ones who dont know their past": you also like to use the straw man fallacy in your arguments? Tell me. Where Mamirica said "blacks are the only people who do not know their past"?
I have yet to see a black person, go through the castle for the first time, without crying.
I'm watching this through UA-cam and I am crying and I got COLD shivers up my spine. The feeling of WATCHING it is indescribable. Being there... Dear Lord...
Hack, I'm South African, not connected to the West African story but I'm in tears for my fellow Africans who were taken as slaves. I'm in tears.
I'm Italian American and I'm crying uncontrollably.
I'm white and I don't think I could. This place needs to be regarded in the same way as the concentration camps in Europe. What these people went through was probably worse than the Holocaust because the Holocaust was over rather quickly and the people who survived were free, yet with their wounds. What the slaves went through here essentially marked them and their descendants with the mark of inferiority in the societies they went to. Almost none of them were ever free, they died while still being tortured as slaves. Then several generations of their children went through the same exact thing, often being ripped from their families. Even after the slaves were 'freed' they still lived in inferiority for 100 more years; several generations more. Then the last 60 years have brought progress but the scars are still there. And it will probably take 200 more years until racism at the institutional, mental, and biological levels are transcended. It is as if the Holocaust lasted for hundreds of years, and THAT is why this place deserves more attention and respect.
@@Awakeningspirit20 you're an awesome human being. God bless you. Greetings from Ghana, West Africa
Wow soo touching thank God my ancestors survived here i am.
How can humans treat each other like this? And they claim to be civilized. So evil.
Especially black people
That is why some people prefer to live with animals, you see animals have more sense than human beings sometimes.
We are all humans living on a beautiful in danger planet called 🌎 Earth. We are all brothers and sisters.
We all have a heart that pumps blood that runs red.
Love each other Please.
Civilize only means I can build a better weapon
BeCouse it's all about money But Compation let's you sleep so much Better instead of Hardening your Hart playing like 1 day you want DIE we all have to pay for his or her SINS in the hour of judgement from him who made this whole world ELOHIM not Lucifer. Speaking the truth Lord's way
Wow! - watching this in 2020 - how emotional, moving and profound.
I can't watch maybe 2021
Watching this 4Oct 2022.
As a caucasian I'm educating myself in the transatlantic slave trade. My country (england) was heavily involved.
Passage in time l am from the UK..been to Africa & Caribbean.
Many times been treated differently in all countries
The UK treated met the worst as racism is silent as it loads up the jail with black male & females
Lot of work to be done.
King Leopold of Belgium killed over 15 million Africans but everybody talks about how Hitler killed 6 million Jews and that number is only small compared to the rest of the colonizers went to Africa and enslaved
Most border disputes in the world is the UK’s fault
wait isnt it racist to say CAUCASIAN and WHITE ? you have offend me please say english american. im headed to my safespace now
It's important that the young learn, they will work together better..
But in the country the UK where l was born, the racism in the schools, the red ling that goes on.
According to ones post code for getting a mortgage, is outlandish.
Since this Country had the worst Slavery history in the world.
The Aftermath is dread.
I pray for my child & my children's children.
Let's not live on fear..but again knowledge and love one another..
Some times the younger ones,
got to tell the older ones what to to..
Racism has to stop otherwise there will be Hell Fire...x
"Don lemon, growing up in the sixties," oh my! He does look young for his age now after 5 years. I was not even around in the sixties and he looks just as young as I do and young at heart to.
I clearly don't believe he lived in the sixties and experienced all those segregation things. It doesn't make any sense.
anthony button For real. He looks like a mere child doesn't he? Must have gotten it from his mom. I love the interaction between them. Too cute!
He was born in 1966 so he wouldn't have remembered it much at all.
😢those tears 😭 yup you are a survivor and amazing reporter keep up the good work and your mother looks amazing 😉
Yes she is
Don is beautiful on the inside and certainly on the outside!
Ummm Yeah!!!💖... And Don looks Absolutely AMAZING as well💙🤗.... He Obviously got her Genes... Just look at him... Now in his 50's, He looks maybe... Early Thirties!!??😍😙🤗😉... And he has a... "Heart of Gold"!!!💖🤗😍😃😙😉...
God Bless You Don!!!💖... And your Entire long line of Family!!!💖😃😄😍🤗😉
@@traseylamotte6629 how are you
This made me cry. How can we be so evil to our own mankind.😭💔
i'm going to forward that video to Kanye west , see if he still thinks slavery was a choice !
He doesn't listen or read!!!
why don't you forward it to the millions of whites who think slavery/servitude is the vocation of Africans. That would do more social good. #Charlottesville
1spTV I think the same thing 😂
yeah it was a choice. either live as a slave or die
Thank you. Cuz that's what I'm about to say....
I wish I could get Don to talk to my 98 year old mom. She's from Port Allen and when asked if she knew any of Don's people, she said, "I knew all of them. I grew up with them." She named his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and specific events.
O wow
Awwww my goodness. You should write him.
Don Lemon favors his grandfather. So sad that he died in such a way. I hope Don great grandparents met again in Heaven.
How u know they are inHeaven
@@ronalddennis5229 he doesn't know. Which is why he said he HOPE theyve met in heaven. You're too busy trying to be a jerk you just made your self look like a jackass.
@@The.Whoever YOU WONT BE DISRESPECTED BY ME IM MATURE BUT ALL YOU RELIGIOUS PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY WHEN SOMEONE DIES THEIR IN HEAVEN WHAT A SAD REPETITIOUS BELIEF. YOU SHEEP KEEPING FOLLOWING THESES WOLFS
Heaven where is this physical place dead people go to. P R OVE THIS SHIT WHOEVER
Ronald Dennis how do you know there’s no heaven?
What proof do you have that it don’t exist
You should go somewhere else to vent about religion, this ain’t the place
Don I love this... so beautiful of you and your mom searching your roots... you are such a sweet person... and I love your affection towards your mom... my son and I are like that too.
Me and my son, too! This was a heart wrenching experience!
Damn this made me cry and I was at work.... Lord let me get it together!!!
Lord God Real Holy who's Name I utter SHANGO ALL HIGH. BRING Tonia together and come home.
Áse Büyango too you black sista.
Áse
Damn.....got me too!
And im a "G" but dont tell anyone i shed a tear!!!
Goofing off at work??? Go figure! Lol!
Thank you Don and mum for this fascinating documentary. My parents are from Jamaica and when the guide mention that the bodies of two former slaves had been returned one from America and one from Jamaica. When he said Jamaica I had shivers all over and became very emotional. Let us not forget where we are coming from and let us never be ashamed. We are survivors. Blessings.
You’re Ghanaian❤️
Why do you mention shame. The people that should be ashame are the decendants of the savage, barbarians and the monsters that were their Ancestors.
When I saw those words at the door reminded me of a town, several miles away from dar es salaam, Tanzania named bagamoyo. This town was known as bwagamoyo literally meaning " leave your heart behind or dump your heart" . it is said to be the last port that slaves shipped across the world would see their home for the last time. Their hearts tightened with resolve to endure and leave an everlasting love to this beautiful land of Tanzania. As a Tanzanian, I salute them..
Were people from Tanzania taken to the New World? I thought they only came from west Africa. Or was this the Arab slave trade?
Bagamoyo in Tanzania, nyumbani ya watu wetu. From South Africa with love
awakeningspirit20 they were also taken from the East BUT MANY look to those taken from the West
Don, your Mother is so beautiful.
@@mikerodgers7620 How utterly disrespectful of you UGH! Grow up!
The truth is the truth. 😁
Shut the Fuck up 😉
The voice though
@@mikerodgers7620 you're a sad soul who needs JESUS..IMMA pray for you
We ARE survivors!!!💪🏽
Áse Büyango to you ma'am.
That's your native black African ghana and Togo langauge be proud and return.
Áse
Yes indeed we have over come .
@milamarie95 ooo so you think you make less money because of black folk? I think ma'am you should recheck facts, things like oils gaints, corrupt management, drug patent ownership, selling $8 hiv medicine for $2000, selling $10 insulin for $200, selling $13 machine part for thousands to the military!!! Now you see who's really taking the money? And the thing about 10 kids.....on average a black women had 2.5 kids and a white women has 2.3 kids...so plz ma'am look at the facts first and then make statements
@milamarie95 and ma'am I'm sorry to say but trump isn't coming agian for 4 years in the office..... That's also a survey done by trusted organisations...... people want Bernie Sanders or Joe biden.....it's just sad
milamarie95 more whites are on walfare then blacks 😂
It was a door of no return but now you have returned home. may the ancestors bless you🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭
We lost our names, our religion, some of our genetics etc.... SAD!!!!!! 😩
heel fliper 👍👍👍👌👌👌💓💕
Grace Scott loosing your name, language and your culture was where the white man won. The only way African in diaspora will win is to get their culture language and names back. Give back the Whiteman his slavemaster name, his language and culture. Christianity is the only true religion of the most high. But he created us in our culture for a reason. We can change who we worship because the spirit has no culture, that's why God brought Christianity to Africa. But we can't chance who our flesh is. GOD created us that way for a reason. In summary Obey and revere the Spirit of the bible and BE proud of your africaness because God created you as that embrace it. EMBRACING the Hebrew falsehood is part of the satanic agenda to oppose the genetic God put your spirit in and replacing it with a fake falsehood. The main agenda of satanic Hebrews falsehood is to keep you focused on mindless rituals and practises pertaining to the flesh. Everything is about the flesh , with falsehood cults. But as in Ephesians 2 Yashua fulfilled the law and all it rituals. Now we need to focus on the spirit is praising God, praying and communal with God, practising goodness and kindness and letting our spirit bring the culture of heaven here in the flesh (earth). Our spirits come from God and enter the flesh good as you can see in babies. It's other spirits that are already in flesh and have learned evil that teach the child evil hence pushing goodness away from the child.
We didn't have a religion; therefore, they can take back their names, religions, languages, and culture.
juju onthatbeat 👍👍👍👍💓💕
juju onthatbeat I agree but not so much with Christianity. Its been corrupted by Europeans. The min we accepted foreign religion we were domed.neither Islam or Christianity belongs in Africa!. I am Ethiopian my ancestors converted to Christianity rt around the 3rd century that's before Europeans. The axumite ruler made it an official religion and the people didn't question about it. They simply converted. What was so bad about thier previous religion they had to convert!?...
Wow I cried. Don your mother is so sweet I see how much love you have for her great story it's good to know your history.
+MARK FULMER your dad is your uncle and mom's brother. You inbred that's chosin.
Idc where u live,if ur black there is a part of u that wants 2 know your true history and real language.
Yep
@monique bedford u can trace your root back to Africa and know your heritage most of u hate your fellow blacks africans but not knowing u are afrrica too ask yourself why the refer u as African America
FACTS
@monique bedford and we created another culture
@@damiandabirinze186 that aint true. Most of us dont "hate"
😢😢😢 every time I watch videos of African Americans tracing their ancestry, I get emotional. My sister gifted me a DNA kit a year ago, the results truly changed me. As a Latina, I ALWAYS knew there was no doubt I had African in my blood. You could see it clear as day when looking at my parents. My mother, Dominican. My father, Puerto Rican....one light skinned , the other black. I would always tell ppl my father was black bc that’s what I saw. As I got older and learned it was when I began to see more clearly.
My maternal grandfather, black Dominican , my maternal grandmother, white Dominican.
Paternal grandparents: Black
I have never been more proud! As it turns out, through my DNA test, I am 33% of African decent. Mainly from the Ghana region. 23% European, Spanish region. Smaller percentage Indian...from the islands (Taino/Arawak) I long to visit Ghana, I just know I need to emotionally, prepare myself. I have an inner need to walk in my ancestors land, feel the soil beneath my bare feet, feel the water on my skin, the air in my lungs.
One day!!!
Welcome
When they lit that candle, I just had to let the tears fall. This video just touched me with some many different emotions.
thediva4eva I cried so hard
Mansa Moussa is still the richest man of all time 500 years after his death and he was west African
Yasssssss😍😍😍❤️✨
He was West African and Muslim. Alhamdulillah
ibrahima seye and I'm from his kingdom
I'm proud of Don for doing this!
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood
I'm ashamed of my American ancestors for what they have done in the past 200 years.
Slavery, Trail of Tears and Hiroshima.
I can only now love and make the future hopeful.
Ms Martha that's all we want is peace.
Martha I feel the same. Half of my ancestors are similar to yours.
If there was more people like you and me this world would be a better place to live in. Thank you for your post.⚘
God Bless !
@@sunshinedoesit8272the half has never been told such ashamed to see how God created us and we all turned aside and fighting over color of our skin it shouldn't be but it's what it is but Ethiopia will spread out its wing Black people just have to get up,Stand up for the right and dont give up until they get it right
Then leave! There wouldn't be an America if it weren't for these events that had happen, then how would you feel??
This has me in tears.I will never forget my ancestors.
Me too 🙏🏽❤️…..
Aren't black people tired of finding Solace and being resolved in the fact our ancestor survived? No i reject that. We owe it to our ancestor to thrive....Force America to deal with racial inequality once and for all. So racism and discrimination can be a thing of the past. So our children are not left with the task of combating the same issues our ancestors dealt with!
Gidget Trevathon I honestly i don't know! But like all things, it can be accomplished if we are willing to work hard for it and sacrifice for it! Whatever is man made can be undone! We've done enough praying and enough hoping! Its time to execute a plan that will bring about the end of 'Inequality' once and for all!
***** No one person can solve the problem of inequality! And whoever makes that claim is a liar! Any idea should be an amalgamation of idea's.
purepotential7 inequality is a by product of human bias. We don't have to combat people's personal perceptions and biases. Just develop a system in which including personal bias has an adverse effect when making decisions. Thereby rendering personal biases null when making communal decisions. As in the case of a Police traffic stop or allocation of a cities budget or education etc etc etc.... For too long we've tried to control the social narrative. Relying on the hope that the next generation will be more socially progressive then the previous. And we have made some advancements but it's time to put this thing to bed once and for all.
just follow the asians and the jews: go to school and get good grades. stopping traffic and burning down 7-11s won't get u anywhere.
Scotcho Rouleau Shut up stupid... All you idiots do is regurgitate stupidity! Lame ass!
Don Lemon was alive in the 60's??Why does he look so damn young it's unreal.
I like don lemon one of the best journalist ever very courageous and honest may God bless you don you are my man
He was born in 1966 the same year my mom was born. He lived from 1966-1969 as a baby and tot and forward on. He looks young because he has good genes.
Black don't crack.
Mary Jane he is a scumbag
Doctor Love you are scumbag
Every black person so long as you’re black we are all Africa first
@milamarie95 go bck where?did u Bring urself on the earth?born racist and silly
@milamarie95 Unless you are a natives , you have to go back too Darling!
No, not every black person is African
Why do you think that?
@milamarie95 LoL Thx for your sympathy but rest assured. There's absolutely no need for it.
@milamarie95 Oh, Ok since you commanded it (wink wink). Then too, I've used my wasted time allotment for the day, toying with you. Troll on & toodles. 💕
Absolutely beautiful.
God bless from Ireland
Thank you, so kindly for sharing Don and his mom's trip to learn their beginnings.
Am an African from the Southern end of Africa. It's heart wrenching when you read and hear stories about slavery and what the ancestors of African Americans had to go through. My only issue is the collective blame by some that Africans sold their kith and kin into slavery. Africa is a continent, and it has a history and the history of Africa is not homogeneous. West African history is different from East Africa as it is from Southern Africa. People think the history of Africa started with colonialism! There were African Kingdoms already in existence. I can loudly proclaim that my ancestors were never taken as slaves and never sold anyone into slavery! In fact they resisted European occupation for a long time. East Africans were taken as slaves by the Arabs to the Arabian countries. Again you can't accuse them of selling African Americans into slavery. Most African Americans came from West Africa and Central Africa. And it's not like even those people were wholly complicity in the slave trade. Queen Nzinge in the Angolas fought against the Portuguese slave traders. Google her up! and there are many others. Not all Africans, just like not all Europeans, were involved in the slave trade.
Thank you. I think that the complicity of Africans selling other Africans into slavery is an issue that is brought up to try to lessen the impact of the European role in the slave trade(it can't). The Transatlantic slave trade was created and driven by the Europeans and their economy. There is another similar issue that is brought up to muddy the issue of slavery in america. That there were African Americans who owned slaves. They neglect to mention that during slavery times when African Americans were considered property, the only way that they could get their family members, was if they were able to buy them, so many times African -americans bought their family members away from the plantations, and they were recorded as their slaves.
History is written and re-written to fit the narrative of the victors and their generations to come. The role of "complicity" by Africans in the slave trade is grossly overplayed.
The reason why Europeans and Americans were so successful in over-hauling and subjugating the entire continent is not because of a universal lack of resistance by Africans. Even warring African nations resisted the white pestilence as best they could - but it was a portent of things to come - in that the playing field for war was never even or fair from the start. It remains the case broadly - even for generations that have since been melted into the American quilt and of course newer generations that have emigrated by hook or by crook to Europe.
Where African leaders sold prisoners of war (from other African tribal opponents) to Europeans - that was more about pragmatics of both getting rid of a perceived threat/challenge - and also being recompensed for it - as well as surviving the incontestable law of the gun.
Therein - also was America's love of the gun to self-protect born. To protect one's self against subjugation and be able to take up arms when necessary.
No. In the main, the slave trade was the choice of either enabling genocide upon one's people - or being complicit in that survival was the only other alternative. Revisionists like to blame Africans - but don't buy the lie. It was always stacked in favour of those with the power to commit genocide.
It's funny how they never mention Africans who actually fought in Africa against the trade. For example Ana Nzinga. ua-cam.com/video/OVsFvnSEvj4/v-deo.html
We may not know all history, but I do know today we sale each other down the river on jobs. To get the American dream. How sad😢
Thank you so much for this video! The first time that I watched it, I was touched to tears. I recently received my own ancestry results and now know that my ancestors are from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal & Cameroon. So today I watched knowing that I had a relative who also walked through the Door Of No Return. My emotions are on a completely different level. I, too, am a survivor.
You have to visit Ghana then
Hello from Cameroon sister
It is emotional, especially because the Ghanian guide was so thorough in conveying what harrowing things in that "castle." In terms of your ancestry, I think the countries aren't as important as the general area of Africa and tribes living there. The countries didn't exist during slavery and were drawn in the Berlin conference and some borders separated ethnicities. Senegal is far away from Cameroon and is full of ethnicities like the Wolof and Serer and Toucouleur where Ghana has Ashanti and Ga and Ewe and Nigeria has Hausa, Igbo, Yoroba and a number of smaller tribes (Ghana also has Hausa). Cameroon is pretty close to Nigeria but I'm not as up on their ethnicities. Of course, we may come from multiple tribes but DNA hasn't yet been able to truly pointpoint it (African Ancestry tries, but I'm not sure their results are totally accurate).
I broke down when he said they brought back those 2 bodies through the same route they left. Very good video! Thanks
Amber Lucille everything should reverse of what happen to our ancestors 🙏🏾
Me too.
Don Lemon does look like his Great Grandfather. I can only imagine how he must feel. Going back and reflecting on his Ancestors that made it out of such a horrible dungeon! I cried for him and myself as well!
Don looks freakishly like his Great Grandfather! In order for America to truly heal, Blacks and Whites need to stop calling themselves "blacks and whites" and use this modern day technology to reveal the truth of our true identity. People hide from the truth because it will make all of us look like fools when unveiled.
@@domineer388 There is a lot of mixture in most African Americans. African Americans are mostly African but 22 percent European is not insignificant. And certain black people can resemble their white relatives of generations back.
They should have posted a disclaimer prior to this video. It touched my soul seeing the places where our ancestors were forced. All I could think of was sadness and then the tears began to flow.
This touched my heart. I wish the story was longer. Our people have come a very long way. We must keep reaching for the stars.
There more on youtube check them out
Your people are trash. Your culture is disgusting.
This was so real ... never seen this before. What our ancestors had to go through before getting a ship to a life of misery and pain! Absolutely horrifying😥
I'm from Ghana and i always say, all african americans must endeavour to visit their motherland at least once in their lifetime to have a real understanding. You will have a better perspective of who you are and your identity. I encourage you to do that.
@Rodney Norman you are always welcome. We had the "Year of Return" last year. This year was supposed to be "Beyond Return" but unfortunately i don't think the covid-19 will make it possible so you can prepare for next year.
😥😥 Rips my soul apart sister.
Harriet Acquah o
I didn't know Don was born in the 60s he looks like his on his twenties. This video was such a blessing and sad. I love my ancestors for what they have done for me. I 💘 Africa. THE Mother land
black don't crack
@Sal m hoooow
I think everyone should have this experience as a part of their education. How many would believe that they have More than one ethnicity in their blood. We are all connected. One human race.
Absolutely
My Campbell cousin took a ancestry DNA test and to our surprise she was 5% African.Just shows how the Irish almost conquered the world,then God introduced whisky.
@@maxinemcclurd1288
⁶ añabelson
Singer
Christian singing joseph Larson
Love from Nigeria 🇳🇬, Africa...
Don Lemon and his mom's visit to Ghana's Cape Coast Castle reminds me of the many African Slave captive untold stories - even my own families untold stories.
I say thank you to Don and his family for their personal shared account.
Highlighted comment
I was born in Ghana and I've never been there
Sad how greed made them sell people
Mina Diop please please and ease again if you don't know what really happened during slavery at the time, don't come here and speak nonsense, "Africans sold other Africans" crap
The selling of slaves was done by a small percent of Africans. The Africans that sold Blacks for slavery sent factions they were at war against. And again you are talking a small percentage.
The Africans that sold other Africans were themselves also kidnapped and brought to America. It's a peeve to see some whites (racist ones) and Blacks (self hating ones who sometimes claim they are not even African) believe the bogus idea that slaves were sold into slavery by Blacks and not whites. No. White people had NO right to kidnap people from the own countries and bring them to America where they had their culture, their children and freedom taken away from them.
Regardless of who sold whom, Africans weren't steering the slave ships. Africans weren't chaining other Africans together to drown to lessen the weight on the ships.
This my story ,our history , our heritage , God bless your memories... I cried
It's so beautiful to see Don and his mom bond and cry over their past. Yes we are survivors by God's grace.
@3:53 Don lemon bears a striking resemblance to Harry Revault his great grandfather
WE ARE TRULY SURVIVORS. Everything has been done to destroy us and yet we ARE. We are HIS people. We are HIS people. Wake up!
Yes you are!! Psalm 83 speaks of your enemies trying to eradicate, destroy and hide your identity from the world. Yahuah bless you!!!!
I think so too
Emotional.Thousands of Africanos were brought to Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 and the Caribbean by the British’s and Spaniards🇪🇸. In my case I’am light skin blue eyes and had an Afro and proud now i’m bald. My Parents are from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 and I was born in Brooklyn N.Y.
ua-cam.com/video/HxdhWlpvbJI/v-deo.html
Ur name sounds Nigerian
Your name sounds Nigerian
I am so sorry to hear your are bald :/
Most enslaved Africans wound up in Latin world. Overstand that Brooklyn had the biggest plantation in Slave built New York City and that Coney Island was a slave port. As you insert yourself into the American slave trade narrative, keep in mind the racism brought to foundational Black Americans who could not leave the state of New York by law because they were too valuable. This means that after establishing this nation, this NYC, that D.C., falling first in Revolutionary War, Blacks were trapped here only to endure racist hatred from every immigrant group including Puerto Ricans.
Don Lemon presents himself as a professional journalist on CNN. I applaud him for always demanding and requiring the truth. He is a fine human being. I know his mom is so proud of him. As a mom myself with adult children I can only imagine how proud his mom must be of him. He is certainly candy eye for CNN. Thanks CNN I love you and I watch you all the time. Stay Blessed all of you.
Despite our (Ghana) time difference I always stay awake to listen to his submissions on CNN. God bless
Imagine being held in complete darkness for 3 months and then that big door opening into blinding sunlight, not knowing what was going to happen next. It's just heartbreaking!
They r all in heaven now with their maker. I will be indebted to that generation for all their struggles and hard work to make this world a better place for everyone.
They should've been taken to the other castle right by the cape coast castle - the Elmina castle. That castle has a lot more history, including the grounds where slave women were lined up for the governor to choose one to rape, the tiny room where resistant slaves were kept in and starved to death, and the second door of no return, which is so small, you had to go through sideways. Also, it has the cell where my queen, Yaa Asantewaa, (bless her soul) was held. I'm Ghanaian and I visit each castle as often as I can because this is a part of my history, even though my ancestors weren't taken away.
Wrong, some of them were... cousins, brothers, fathers, mothers, siblings.....
My mother visited that place as a missionary to Accra & Kamisi and took a picture there. When she gave it to me at 13 ... I wept uncontrollably. So much pain .... I consistently ask God ... WHY???
Aprilluvv Good question!
Nana Esi Okyere-N. How do you know none were taken? I’m sure they were.
Nana Esi Okyere-N. Maybe they were shown the place where their specific ancestors most likely passed through based on their research of things like the ship manifest, etc.
Beautiful. “Honor their sacrifices “ thank you for sharing!!!
I am crying 😢 with you both! I have heard stories like this from my grandparents & others but this is so real! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
"Its a pleasure to welcome you back" that is what we Africans are saying to you. Come back home.😭😭😭
@milamarie95 you first, as this isnt your land.
@milamarie95 it's not bitching or whining our people have been set back 450 years because of the racism in this country that still occurs today
@@lolalove6141 Racism? If your ancestors heard that, they would scoff and ask why you so lazy.
They worked hundreds of years to give those with darker skin opportunities to change everything and yet your standing here with oppurtunities your ancestors couldent dream of getting, but all your saying is 'give me free stuff cuz my ancestors suffered'
Africa is still a mess.
We must fix Our continent to allow our brothers abroad to come back home. They have already endured a lot even though it isn’t yet perfect for them tthere in USA too.
@@TheEnabledDisabled STFU
God bless Don and his mother for sharing this. :o)
only one word can describe this: powerful
Homophobes are down low gays themselves.
Calculus Advance dodq that is so not true. Educate yourself please! For goodness sake! Their is way too much ignorance on this Earth! Geez!
7:08 "it was designed for a thousand people" I got chills when he said that
😢😢😢
Poor harry. So wonderful that he actually was trying and wanted to be a father to his black daughter, and so so different from most people like him.
Wow don you look like your grandma.
Your mom is so awesome 💕 and you are so cool, and what a snack. im in love
I just watched this and the emotions poured in me..i need to know who i am
good idea is time you guys travel to Africa 😘
I'm from Ghana and i must say our arms are wide open to have you back home. This is your home. You always have a home here.
Don't be sad. I'm cau
Same😔
Same ... 😢😢
Wow this gave me chills. Don you & you’re beautiful mom are so brave. That’s a lot to take in.
NOW I Must Travel To Africa. I'm crying TEARS
Dear Benjamin. Please come home. Come to Africa. It’s a rich continent with great people. Don’t believe the negative news the media tells you about Africa. Come and see for yourself. We love you, dear brother.
Me too!! 🙏
Watching Don overcome by emotion propelled me back to my won walk through the transhipment point on James Island off the coast of The Gambia. I could not stop crying. I was not there to research my ancestry but it felt like I was. The air, felt heavy - thick with the souls of the slaves who died there, and I had this image of them all being my relatives. Every single one. I cried as much watching this feature, as I did then. What a powerful piece. And what a beautiful journey to take with your own mother. The symbolism here speaks volumes.
Amen - I love ackee and salt fish lol
The sad thing is that slavery is still going on in Africa today and the slave master number one is France. You ask how; well, slavery was followed by colonization of African territories. I guess due to the industrial revolution, slaves were not needed as much any more but the natural resources were still in high demand. European countries brutally colonized African countries killing anyone who opposed them. So eventually in the 60s they figured, instead of fighting all these wars trying to hold onto territory in Africa, why don't we just give these countries pseudo independence whereby we install figure head leaders in power and force them to use our currencies (Franc CFA) where we determine the cost of the good that we buy from them and they have no say. Whenever there is any attempt to overthrow one of our figure head leaders, we send troops under the pretence of humanitarian efforts. The president of Cameroon is a puppet of France and he has been there since 1982 (35 years). He will stay there till he dies as long as France keeps protecting him and draining Cameroon's natural resources at practically no cost. Any rebellion against him is a rebellion against France, good luck winning that war. In essence, Cameroon and other African countries have been stuck in the dungeon (pictured in this video) since the days of slavery. There is so much more to this story from a social aspect also but I will leave it there for now. So if anyone ever wondered why African economies are where they are today and relies racist narratives to arrive at answers, read this comment and abstain from shallow thinking driven racism or racist views
Africa: never given credit for being the first home of humankind, and just as well never given credit for the development of human civilization and upon whose shoulders the rest of the world's civilizations necessarily stands. Until the economic infrastructures of colonialism are truly destroyed and Africans are free to determine their own futures, Africa, the richest resourced continent on earth will continue to be one of the continents that has the least economic development.
@mbandi I'm with you so do not take this wrong!! Seriously who doesn't know that by now? when people say why dont african countries fair better than they do with all of the natural resources they have and the world wants? hasn't anybody looked into that on their own? Why do they think most african countries have foriegn languages as their official languages they have been colonized and surely they should know what that means by now!!! It is i guess far too easy to sit on the sofa and get all of your biased info from american news lol!! Black people we will stay like this forever if we do not educate ourselves on what is going on for us the world over not just in america and start to do something about it!!
Definitely. Haiti is a similar situation.
Thanks for your time and your history lesson we are still slaves in our Homeland Africa.Pretty Almighty save your Souls.Amen
I do not but it! It is corruption instead which is why Israel control the US. No Africans are free to so whatever they want in their countries! France has only an economic power and if Africans work hard they can escape that economic dependency!
Don Lemon, thank you so much for taking me through a journey to find your roots. I teared and cried, too. The inhumane treatment of people is beyond comprehension! No one should exalt himself above any other!
Oh Mr.Don ,we love to love you and your entire beautiful family from Ghana.❤✌
I keep forgetting Don is in his 50s he looks so young
This broke my heart
Yes. Seeing the holes that held the chains felt like a punch in the stomach.
We all must revere our ancestors, they survived hells we can't imagine. May they all rest in peace.
Am from Ghana and i wonder how many of my ancestors were taking against their will.I need to ask my great grandmother.
@DeGrate1896 They keep spreading that nonsense and people are starting to buy it. How many tribal wars was going on in Africa to have thousands of people shipped off into slavery. There are numerous history documented about africans resisting colonial rule. Europeans fought with African and since they had better weapons were able to capture the Africans and enslave them. That is what happened. If anyone wants to understand what happened, they have to start their research from the beginning and the wars that were fought between Africans and the Europeans who were lead or motivated by greed.
It was a Business. Your ancestor sold their families
Ander yes it was a business among the Europeans and Spanish ppl, if u don’t know the history go research and stop talking bulshit
@@awuraart2011 European and Africans
Spanish was not part of that
@@arabaanaman It is a fact that Africans for the massively most part captured fellow Africans to sell into slavery. Europeans would arrive on the coast with guns, alcohol, cheap trinkets and the Africans would hand over human beings in exchange for a gun, a bottle of rum or some cheap trinkets. The only people who deny this are pan African people and some Africans themselves. They deny, not because they really believe it did not happen, they deny because they simply cannot imagine Africans treating other Africans in such disgusting ways. Up to 20 million people were shipped to the Americas. Even today no power on earth could forcibly move so many people without massive internal help, and this is a help that the Africans enthusiastically engaged in.
Uncontrollable Tears streaming... I'm from Allen Parish Louisiana descents of The Atakapa Tribe aka Blookfoot Tribe... Thank you for this Don!
Am Kenyan and this makes me understand why many black people who left Africa as a result of slavery are mostly bitter, the story of slavery is passed to generations and the cycle continues. This just broke my heart
It’s the lack of acknowledgment of the deep wound that slavery left that causes it to fester, and not heal. For generations......😢😢😢
we're mostly bitter?? Our Black joy is all over the world and has made all nations sparkle, we give y'all LIFE. Just because we are rightfully and righteously angry and grieving and demanding justice as well does not make us "bitter". Don't tone police us.
Our story is much more complicated than that and it doesn't end with slavery but that is a part of the trauma.
When your own African people can sell my ancestors for guns and beads how are we supposed to feel but I love being from the Caribbean, it is my identity as an Afro- Caribbean female and will never identify with Africans or Europeans, ever. Caribbean forever
@@yep.4635 You really got triggered bro. Am with you not against you
Don Lemon looks sooooooo much like his great grandfather Harry Rivault...
As an island girl I want to know which part of Africa i would've came from. For some reason i hope Ghana.
Cherry Love I was hoping ghana as well. My DNA revealed Nigeria. Which was interesting considering my sister and I visited Nigeria 10 years before I took the DNA test. I just feel I have a stronger connection to the people from Ghana.
is it becuz our jollof rice is good?
Awesome, you have found something about yourself that many of us long for. Heritage