The Slave Haven Museum was one of the sites we visited last week during our vacation in Memphis.  I was not prepared for what I experienced!  I had a reaction that I’ll never forget.  I felt a most unusual connection to the souls and spirits of my people throughout the “Jacob Burkle Estate”, which was a home used as a leg of the Underground Railroad.  A place where Harriet Tubman and hundreds of slaves were allowed in during their quest for freedom.

I urge you to research Jacob Burkle and his bravery.  Our tour guide, Hester J. Moore, gave us a dramatic and memorable history lesson.  Hester is an excellent story teller with many talents (which include actress, poet, and singer).  She was the perfect person to lead our group through the tour.

Here is a link where others share their comments about the Slave Haven Museum – click here.  You will also get more information and background.  I don’t agree with everything that was said, but do realize that it’s others’ opinions. 

I want to speak about the overwhelming surge of energy I felt and the uncontrollable wave of emotion that overtook me at one point.  Again, I was not prepared for what I felt.  The tour culminated in us visiting the cellar where the slaves hid until it was safe for them to move on to the next stop of the underground railroad.  I was traveling with a group of 26 people and we were escorted down to the cellar.  But, wait, it was now my turn to go down those stairs.  I froze.  I panicked.  I could not go down into that dark hole.  The first reaction was due to the fact that I don’t like to be closed up.  I stood there, shaking, and watched my group go down as I was too frightened to do so.  I watch elderly women go down there.  Elderly men.  Then people my age, all without any problems.  At this point, I began to cry -  yes, I stood there crying uncontrollably as another feeling was coming over me.  My husband had to hold me and comfort me.  I couldn’t explain what was happening to me other than I could only imagine them slamming the door, and I freaked out even more!  Somehow, however, Jerry calmed me down enough and helped me down the stairs.  There we stood – all 26 of us, with Ms. Hester, in that dark, hot, cramped cellar.  She told more history of my people and I increasingly felt chills and deep sadness.  Then Hester began to tell us that it is said that Harriet Tubman would use what we call Opium and give to the babies.  This was to keep them quiet.  If the slaves were heard or discovered in the cellar, of course they most likely would’ve been killed.  But, Hester said, sometimes the Opium didn’t work and the mothers so afraid that they would all be discovered would hit the babies in the head with a rock – silencing them – very likely killing them!!!! 

Oh, I lost it then for sure!  Jerry was behind me, consoling me, and one of the ladies in my group was in front of me, consoling me.

Oh, my people, my people, is all I could say.  I felt them.  I felt for them.  I couldn’t help but feel that their spirits were crying out to me.  Oh wow, I could not help but weep at the thought of everything they went through.  Things I knew, but if was as though I was living it that day. 

I’m pathetic, I know, as I was the only one crying.  I don’t know why it got to me so deeply; don’t know why I took it so personally and so hard.  I felt such a connection.

There was a painting on display in the museum that I pray I am able to purchase one day.  I didn’t have the money and am not sure if I’ll ever have it to spare, but I want that painting.  I can see it hanging in my hallway.  I don’t remember the artist, nor the name of the painting, but it depicts exactly what I felt and what I can see with my mind’s eye.  From a distance, it looks like a sea of water.  But a closer look and you can see the spirits of my people.  Amazingly enough, as we were shown the painting, I was the only one who could “see” that in the beginning.  Others saw it when Hester pointed it out.

Oh, my people, my people!  The babies, oh the babies!  Oh, the families that were torn apart, oh the families! 

If you ever go to Memphis, I encourage you to visit the Slave Haven Museum.  I strongly encourage you to ask for Hester as your guide.

Blessings!

Carla Y. Nix