ANCESTRAL MEMORIES
Water reminds us that our first sanctuary is found in nature and that we are stewards of the earth's sacred resources. Each Juneteenth, families and friends gather at Historic Black Beach (Virginia Key Beach Park) for Sunrise Ancestral Remembrance of the Middle Passage. This sacred ceremony honors the Ancestors lost during the Maafa, the "great disaster" of the transatlantic slave trade. The ritual opens with a Native American prayer; The text should be rewritten for clarity and correctness as follows: "followed by pouring libations for the ancestors.". Participants share songs, prayers, and reflections in a spiritual circle that welcomes all faiths.
Men carefully arrange palm branches on the ground as community members offer fruits, grains, nuts, and flowers—gifts for the Ancestors.
Men carefully arrange palm branches on the ground as community members offer fruits, grains, nuts, and flowers—gifts for the Ancestors. With deep reverence, the men carry the palms and offerings into the water. They release them into the sea, symbolically feeding the souls of those who were lost.
Honor and remember those who have passed away while providing nourishment for their journey in the afterlife," says IFA practitioner Mrs. Michelle Grant-Murray, her voice trembling as tears rolled down her cheek. This ceremony is not only a remembrance but the renewal of a collective promise never to forget..
