liberated Minds

More than 150 years have passed since that fateful day, when Danish West Indies Governor Peter von Scholten, facing a sea of thousands of enslaved Africans ready to burn down St. Croix, climbed on to the red walls of Fort Frederick and declared the end of slavery on throughout the territory.That day, July 3, 1848, may have marked the end of physical chains, but the devastating effects of mental bondage live on and continue to cripple African people in the current U.S. Virgin Islands and throughout the world today.“Liberated Minds” comes at a crucial time of reflection in the shared history of these three places, including the 90th anniversary of the 1917 Transfer of the territory from Danish to American hands and the 50th anniversary of the independence of Ghana, which in 1957 became the first African nation to win its independence.We are also aware of the 40th anniversary of the Association of Black Psychologists next year, as mental health care experts of African descent convene to discuss ways to heal the damage done to the African state of mind.Using three key points in the Triangular Slave Trade — the Virgin Islands, Denmark, and Ghana —“Liberated Minds” will analyze the state of the collective African mind today after exposure to Danish slavery and colonization from 1671 to 1917, and American rule from then until the present.As Dr. Na'im Akbar contend in his 1984 book, “Chains and Images of Psychological Slavery:”“The slavery that captures the mind and incarcerates the motivation, perception, aspirations, and identity in a web of anti-self images, generating a personal and collective self-destruction, is more cruel than the shackles on the wrists and ankles. The slavery that feeds on the psychology, invading the soul of man, destroying his loyalties to himself and establishing allegiance to forces which destroy him, is an even worse form of capture."This type of psychological conditioning has led African descendants into a state of dependency on those who have traditionally oppressed them. Today, many Africans believe they cannot change their life conditions without outside approval or assistance, and look to others to think, legitimize, and provide for them.As we seek to reclaim our heritage, Africans throughout the world are beginning to question our belief systems in order to repair the damage.It is our position that without understanding mental slavery and its effect, African people throughout the world will not be able to rise out of this predicament in order to shape their own destiny.“Liberated Minds” will look at the need for the study of Black psychology, and delve into the ways that education, media, law, and religion have been used through time to create a resulting effect of mental slavery.We will engage a large cross-section of scholars in humanities fields such as philosophy/psychology, sociology, journalism, education, anthropology and religion in on-camera interviews.Our research will also include cultural resources such as books and articles on the subject, collections at library archives, old photographs and newspaper accounts, artwork, and dance interpretations on the subject.The target audience is high school seniors, college students, professionals, scholars, and community leaders.