Description:This is a photograph of my visit to Jamaica. I am with my sister and friends from Annie Wood. I really did enjoy my visit and the weather was always sunny and hot.
I used a computer for internet searches to find out what the Department of International Development does. I was glad for finding out the help that it was giving back to Africa and all the countries like Kenya. Helping the people of the country with business, fair trade farming, giving clean water and education for the children.
I went to visit the Museum in town and saw the Equiano exhibition. I saw pictures of how children were taken away from their families and kidnapped to become slaves in Africa. It was a very cruel and unjust time. I could not dream of being in shackles but Equiano bought his freedom out of slavery for £30 which would be about £600 today but it took him 3 long years.
I also went to Central library archives and had to go up a spiral staircase to the 7th floor. I saw so many old large books. Izzy, showed us lots of old photographs of people on plantations, a collection of women’s poems supporting abolition of slavery and how wrist bands were made and worn to show your support.
At the Back to Backs on Hurst Street in Birmingham, I saw how living in England was hard for the poor. I listened to recorded stories of people who used to live in the area. I also heard about George Saunders, a black migrant tailor who lived and worked at one of the shops. I have enjoyed sharing and listening to everyone in the class after the visits.
Photograph courtesy of Kathleen Thomas