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(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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This memorial commemorates enslaved African Americans of Deerfield, Massachusetts. Designer Shamek Weddle explains:"I was inspired to go beyond regions of ownership and time, a call to and from the past to the future and the present. The 'call' is symbolized in the African drum, communicating to all African Diaspora spiritual presence: past, present and future. My drawing allows Deerfield to join with all other national and international historic sites of the African Diaspora. The cowry shells focuses on African-based religion and values; and how a lot of those beliefs and values have not been completely lost even with such strong culture-killers as the American slavery system--hence the broken chain." The ships that transported Africans across the Atlantic Ocean are represented at the base of the drum.

 

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Memorial Plaque for African-American Slaves in Deerfield

creator   Shamek Weddle
creator   Dimitrios Klitsas
date   Nov 30, 2004
location   Hampden County
diameter   22.5"
process/materials   wood
item type   Art/Sculpture
accession #   #2006.09


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See Also...

Pages from Rev. Jonathan Ashley's account book

Bill of sale for slave named Prince

Complaint against slave Caesar for stealing


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