Subject: FACING AFRICAN AND AMERICAN SLAVERY AND OURSELVES
Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 13:11:06 -0500 From: Felixd19  Organization: Free Africa Foundation To: letter@globe.com


FACING AFRICAN SLAVERY AND AMERICAN SLAVERY AND OURSELVES  


I commend Irene Monroe's attempt to bring some reason and logic on the historical perspectives of the African and American slavery(op.-ed "the unacknowledged roots of American slavery", March 15, 1998). The unfortunate consequence of the unacknowledged roles of our local chiefs and the Arab middlemen in the African continental slavery is the perpetual continuation of these crimes against humanity in some parts of Africa today. The shameful blind eye and even denial of the slavery practices in Mauritania and Sudan in spite of credible investigative reports makes mockery of our claims on the American slavery over 300 years ago let alone our demand for reparation. Much as we should not forget the past we surely should not abandon our present day efforts in fighting for the freedom of our women and children who are being sold into palaces and harems in the Middle East today. We have no excuse to justify our inaction in view of the many available documentary reports from UN Commission on Human Rights and other Human Rights groups as well as media reports. With the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights this week, the Globe's article could not have been better timed. We have to remove the smoke screen of our infatuation with the American slavery and direct our attention and limited resources to freeing and assisting those of our women and children whose lives are being threatened today by the blatant disregard for their basic survival and human dignity in Africa. To pretend otherwise has been the biggest thorn in our human conscience in dealing with human tragedies in the present world, disregarding any lessons from the history of our modern civilization.


Felix Amankona Diawuoh Executive Director(Boston Chapter) 33 Alston St. Somerville. MA 02143. March 17, 1998. (617)623-7451 Letters To The Editor The Boston Globe Boston.