Office of Black Catholic
On Saturday, July 11th, Deacon Charles Williams led 16 individuals on a Young Adult Slave Trail Walk in Richmond, Virginia. Deacon Charles, the Director of the Office for Black Catholics, partnered with the Office of Social Ministries to give young adults this experiential learning opportunity.
In addition to historical facts and accounts, Dcn. Charles brought the human experience to the slave trail walk. From the overcrowded slave ships traveling across the seas to the shackled bodies marching through the dark night, participants placed themselves in the minds and bodies of the enslaved Africans to reflect upon the feelings of fear, dehumanization, and physical pain. Towards the end of the trail, participants were led to the Reconciliation Statue. This powerful public symbol commemorates the international triangular slave trade while acknowledging Richmond’s history of being one of the busiest slave centers in the country. Dcn. Charles concluded the walk by reminding participants that the same injustices spoken about and felt along the trail still exist within our American society today.
