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Engrave the name/names or passage of your choice on the "SACRED WALL", an ancestral tribute and memorial to the fallen Africans who perished in the Maafa (African Slave Trade). This worthwhile, historical project was unveiled during the summer of 2003 in the WISOMMM Children's Garden in Newark, NJ. Some of the African heroes and sheroes already on the wall are Marcus Garvey, Malcolm and Betty Shabazz, Harriet Tuman, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Nat Turner, Cinque and Ida B. Wells. You can purchase one or more bricks with the inscription of your choice.
Click here to BUY-A-BRICK.
It’s been said that you can’t know where you’re going if you don’t know and understand where you’ve been and where you come from.
The Women In Support of the Million Man March happen to believe in the truth of that saying, but they would also like to add a caveat to it – that it is equally important, if not moreso, to remember who came before you and what they did and sacrificed on your behalf.
With that spirit of understanding and continuity in mind, on Sept. 14th the ladies of WISOMMM held an unveiling and dedication ceremony for their latest project designed to further their social and cultural agenda - a Sacred Wall to and of our ancestors in an attempt to create a strong cultural foundation and provide a sense of identity for future generations.
“The African Adinkra symbol “Sankofa” instructs us to go back and see the reflection of the past in who we are today,” the women of WISOMMM said in a written statement for the ceremony which took place in the refurbished backyard of their mansion. “By doing so we will be able to move forward and prepare a better and brighter reality for those (generations) yet to come. This wall represents our way of following that instruction.”
“We are honoring the ancestors. It’s a tribute to our mothers, fathers, and grandparents who went before us and struggled and they bent so low so that we can stand tall today,” said Frederica Bey, the executive director of WISOMM. “If it wasn’t for their sacrifices, and their struggles and their victories, we would never be able to stand so tall and have such a beautiful gathering as the one we had today.”
Bey said the unveiling of the Sacred Wall was a community event made possible by the efforts of many people. She said some of the credit goes to the people who purchased the bricks at varying prices to be engraved and set into the wall; the volunteers who gave of their time and effort to literally remake the WISOMMM Mansion’s backyard into a courtyard and showcase for the wall; and the members of her organization who have dedicated themselves and their talents and energy to the cause of uplifting African-Americans and people of color and African descent everywhere.“
I’m here on dedication of a brick to my aunt, Ernestine Ali, who just passed away in February,” said Tyran Andrews. “Seeing that brick today brought tears to my eyes. I am so happy that families and friends, through this organization, dedicated these nice bricks for today’s occasion.”
Andrews said there were many reasons why she and many others paid to have bricks dedicated to deceased family members, African-American historical and cultural heroes, and even Afrocentric ideas and values. Although the reasons might vary, she said the underlying purpose and theme was the same – paying homage to ancestors who fought, struggled and persevered so their descendants could live and prosper in a better world.“
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