This Black History Month, I'd like to shine the spotlight on someone who's lifelong passion has been bringing young black people to Africa to SANKOFA!

Dr. Boykin Sanders is a professor of New Testament Studies and Greek Studies at Virginia Union University. Dr. Sanders is the third African-American to earn a Ph.D. at Harvard Divinity. He was also appointed pastor after Martin Luther King Jr. at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Dr. Sanders is also the author of Blowing the Trumpet in Open Court: Prophetic Judgment and Liberation and other publications. However, amongst this long list of accomplishments, Dr. Sanders is most known for his extraordinary ventures to Africa.

Every year since 1995, the African Heritage Group (lead by Dr. Boykin Sanders) has been exposing students and non-students to the African Holocaust, also known as the Slave Trail, that took place in Ghana, West Africa and stretches over 269.15 miles. The trip is 18-21 days long.

“It is important for you to know that we do not go to Africa to do ‘missionary’ work. Our venture there is for educational reasons, indeed to engage and to be taught. As such, we work with the theme “Encountering African Religions in Africa.” Here religion is broadly conceived. It is what we think and do, and so in broad terms religion is culture,” says Dr. Sanders.

Since 1995, hundreds of young black people have traveled with Dr. Sanders to East and West Africa. Below are some of their testimonials.

"I had an agenda before I traveled to Ethiopia and Ghana. I wanted to come back to the states a "new me"…more motivated and determined to take on the assignment placed on my life,” but what I received was so much more than my own agenda. I can still remember the feeling of stepping foot on the beautiful land of Ghana, it was my home. The experience of seeing my people, the villages, clinics, museums, and so much more I will never be the same. Every day I miss Ghana, but every day I am motivated to do everything I can with what I have. I left Africa with a piece of myself, an extended family, and memories I will never forget. Thank God for Dr. Boykins and all those involved in taking their brothers and sisters back home, it is definitely worth it."

-Brittani Palmer, Richmond, VA

"I was blessed to attend Dr. Boykin's annual trip to Africa in '09'. From visiting Elmina slave castle to walking the slave trail to being baptized in the waterfalls. This invaluable journey will take you through a gamut of emotions as you gain a higher appreciation for the motherland of humanity!"

-Arthur Mack, Inglewood, CA

"My first trip to Africa (Ghana and Ethiopia) in 2005 changed my entire outlook on how I viewed myself, African Americans in the diaspora and the world. It was refreshing to know that our history didn’t begin with slavery and it left me yearning to learn more. I went to Africa 3 more times [with Prof. Sanders] and each time, I came back with a different perspective."

-Marcia Scott, Charlotte, NC

When asked what keeps him excited about these trips Dr. Sanders humbly says, “I just tried to do my best and I tried to contribute something to our people. I have a deep sense of my mission that somehow or another, we have to restore our people.”

If you are interested in taking this journey, please visit us at AfricanDiasporaGroup.com or contact us at AADRGINC@gmail.com to for more information.

yoyolander

Writing since February 2017 · 1 story contributed