Obama Visits Cape Coast Castle In Ghana (VIDEO)

CAPE COAST, Ghana President Barack Obama says a slave site reminds him of humanity's potential for "great evil" but also gives him a reason for hope, given the progress African-Americans have made since leaving the castle as slaves.

Obama toured a seaside fortress that the British used as slave dungeons during the 17th century. Obama said the site reminded him of a recent trip to a Nazi concentration camp in Germany.

Obama visited the Cape Coast site with his wife, Michelle and their daughters. Obama says it's important for his girls to learn an obligation to fight oppression and learn about history's cruelty.

He says that no matter how vicious that history might be, it is possible to overcome it.

Comments

[luvangelHussein330]

HP's story in no way does this visit any justice at all....and of all places I had to go to political to get the real story or rather a more indepth and pointent one:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/24808.html

And for the record it is sad that so many want to re-write or pick and chose the history of slavery as a means to make theselves feel better. But the truth shall set you free:

http://www.understandingslavery.com/learningresources/results/?id=4758

[nilotic]

Thanks for that. I also agree with you about the revisionist accounts of the history of slavery. I must say that I was glad to hear Anderson Cooper last night mention enslaved Africans, rather than using the dehumanizing "slaves" label.

[BritishColumbian]

What a pathetic, futile argument it is to try to decide which human autrocity is the worst, who was responsible and to try to decide which person was responsible for ending it.

In doing so the focus taken away from the evil humans are capable of and reduces the tragedy to an intellectual and a political argument. It also prevents some people to face the devastating effect the past can have on the generations that follow.
I

[Bitsko]

I agree with your point, but HuffP0 is more of a hangout commenting kinda place and ot a great source for hard news. Thanks for the links.

[gingerlilyose]

Thanks for the link

[Ted LPD]

You can say sorry many times but the scars remain with us forever. If kids can't swim in the pool bcse they look different, it says a lot about some Americans. So much to learn and a long way to go.

At least neocons come out telling you what is on their minds. God bless them!

[AbbieXHoffman]

Love this man

[loutreverte]

I just wish he would focus on the slave trade in North Africa and the Horn of Africa which continues to this day. Real people are suffering and neither liberal not conservative politicians in the West show any courage to address the problem. Much easier to make bland remarks about the evils of the past.

[Bubba Gump]

A very good point.

[Indie2008]

I'm not sure how many centuries slave trading has existed in North Africa and the Horn, but maybe our President could stabilize the US economy, and address our shortcomings as a nation first.

[BritishColumbian]

Such compassion and empathy!

[kate99]

the British empire ended slavery in 1807 but for most of the years of the empire before that there was slavery

the usa did not end slavery till the American civil war ended in 1865 slavery started with the arrival of the Europeans in the new world so you can work it out form there

[oscartucker]

"Much easier to make bland remarks about the evils of the past." You STILL do not understand.

"Evils of the past" are still rearing their heads in the United States and abroad. The speech by President Obama was addressed to the entire continent of Africa. There will be an effect on many things. The changes may not come tommorrow, Sunday,or in six months, but they will come. Hopefully no group will try to stop it or do some underhanded dealings. Yes, something should be done about "the slave trade in North Africa and the Horn of Africa which continues to this day."

[1088]

The President have so mess to fix! Rome wasn't built in a day!!

[robbep]

He was in Ghana so he had to visit the point of no return, had he ignored it he wld have offended his black constituents. However, your point is well taken. Slavery is a booming business in this global economy and needs to be addressed.

[Cool-headed]

And NO teleprompters here! You can feel Mr. Obama is really thinking hard as he goes, not delivering some pre-packaged message written by marketing people. The way he mentions his daughters and what they have to learn - it's all genuine. I am not an American but I admire and love this man enormously, like millions in the world. His presence has been a relief for the whole world.. May he keep firm and do great things. His example is shining.

[maigesheng]

You dont know how the Trolls in American hate you

[rubygreen]

Thankyou for your sentiments, as it means so much to know that our President is respected, not just here at home, but around the world, as it can make such a difference to us all.

[Reel Recordings]

That goes for me too...a Canadian. Believe me, I 'cried for happy 'when he won the election. You are fortunate to have such a thoughtful, intelligent, eloquent, and articulate man as your President.

[roshni]

Thank you for your post. He was speaking from the heart and you can't pre-write that.

[bilmardre]

Thank you. It is an amazing time to be alive. History is being made, and I think we are on the right side.

[roshni]

It really is. History is being made in a positive way before my eyes.

[wanttruth]

Well said.

[RocknRollChef]

There WAS a holocaust in the USA. It started in the Caribbean when Christopher Columbus first came there in 1492. He enslaved the native peoples and forced them to work in the gold mines in order to make Spain rich. It took 15 years for the Spanish to destroy the Taino people on Puerto Rico and as a result they had to bring slaves from Africa to finish the job. Then they began enslaving and destroying the native peoples on the mainland. Just because people aren't WHITE it doesn't mean you can't use the word holocaust to describe their enslavement and ultimate annihilation.

[Bitsko]

"Genocide" works just as well.

[maigesheng]

I think that whole nazi thing was such a standout historically it is kind of respectful to use holocaust for that. I cant completely back that up rationally. No one denies the word genocide. This is an interesting topic. But, I dont know how it relates with Obama visiting Ghana

[rubygreen]

Unfortunately, that word can be applied to many ethnicisities (sp?). It's going on in many places around the world as we speak.

[roshni]

No argument from me. I never celebrate Columbus Day.

[ghtrains]

Does is really matter who kidnapped the slaves? Does the type of slavery matter? Human history is a long tale of man's inhumanity toward others. The whole point is that all people need to be mindful of the terrible events in our human history and guard against such events happening again. Haters in the USA are just repeating the ugly parts of human history.

[Gasparilla]

Following that theory, Obama should not have gone to the fort.

[AFAN]

Why not? President Bush & Bill Clinton went to that site.

[rubygreen]

By your theory he should not have gone to the camp in Ger.

btw I completely disagree with you.

[roshni]

He did say that Buchenwald was another experience of capacity for evil. I think he would agree with you.

[RocknRollChef]

Their children like many children are the future of this country. Hopefully they will walk away with the knowledge and emotional understanding that this can not happen again. Being there and feeling the emotions left behind by those who suffered should leave a lasting effect on the Obama children. That's two children that will never enslave another culture for the material benefit of another. As a parent, I think it is an important responsibility to teach your children the importance of empathy. What better way than to expose them to a place where so many suffered.

[barphyle]

Very well said - I agree completely.

[Jonni Rae]

I will add my pride to the pride of others here, that Barack Obama is our President. Also, I wonder why we have a Holocaust Museum here in DC, but we have no memorial to expose the evils of slavery, evil that happened here, on OUR land, our shores, by Christians.....Where is the Slavery Memorial?

[KarenT]

Have you ever been to the Museum of African American History in Detroit. If you're ever in the area, it's worthwhile.

[roshni]

We have one in Philadelphia too.

[chitown8]

Du Sable in Chicago.
Civil Rights in Memphis.

[Bubba Gump]

Someone posted, "There is no post-racial, color blind society."

Respectfully, I disagree. There is a post-racial, color blind society. Right here. It starts inside each one of us. I CHOSE TO BE COLOR BLIND! That's at the core of "YES WE CAN"! The only way to change the world for the better is to start with the person we look at in the mirror!

FYI, I'm white with some Cherokee blood. Although I'm between churches, my former pastor was black, as are many of my friends. And living here in southwest Missouri, that's not the usual case; but it's not so uncommon as it used to be, even 20 years ago.

[maigesheng]

Nice try. I appreciate the sentiment but, it is not starting in each of us. Im sure it is inside you but, one person does not a society make. Bigotry also starts within.

But keep up the good work

[Bubba Gump]

I will always try to keep up the good work. And I do understand what you are saying. It also needed to be said.

[deepkid]

With due respect, color blindness does not acknowledge the beauty in all colors. I think people should really specify one of many types of hatred we truly wish to avoid -- color ignorance.

[Bubba Gump]

I did not mean to speak toward fostering hatred -- in fact, quite the opposite. If I offended you in any way, I am sorry. I simply am tired of this being a black versus white argument when we all share red blood. (No pun intended.)

And you are right that "color blindness does not acknowledge the beauty in all colors." Perhaps I was too politically correct. Care to coin a better phrase?

[roshni]

i applaud you and your choice. The problem is that there are a lot of people who are not ready for what you and I are trying to do. Just the other day, a group of AA kids were kicked out of a pool near where I live because of their skin color.
We still have a way to go.

[Bubba Gump]

"We still have a way to go." True. But of all the people standing with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, how many would have believed that a man like Barack Obama would be President in 45 years? Change takes time and perseverence.

[Gasparilla]

I always love explaining the "good book" to people who have no idea what it says. They tell me something like it says in Kings such and such...to which I say it also did not prohibit slavery, many of the major figures in the bible owned slaves, and it says you should stone your unruly children to death.

[momcat4obama]

isn't that all in the Old Testament, though?

[Gasparilla]

Yes, but how do you tell me this part counts and the other is to be ignored? If you want to say follow the golden rule, fine. But don't justify your positions with the old testament.

[Truthosaurus]

According to the widely held Christian doctrine of The Trinity, the OT god is the NT god. There is only one god as Christians are monotheistic. So don't let anyone con you into thinking that the OT god's dictates and actions do not matter, or that some "new covenant" makes it all good.

[Bubba Gump]

I think Jesus Christ said it best.

"But hearing that He had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees were gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked, tempting Him and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the Law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:34-40 Modern KJV)

[Gasparilla]

So throw out the old testament? Is it a sin to eat shellfish? The bible says so. Or do you pick and choose what you agree with?

[rubygreen]

Why do you need the "good book" for anything at all. Old Testament, New Testament. It's a book written and rewritten and rewritten. Too much bl 00 d has been shed in the name of that "good book". And it continues today. They hypocracy of Christianity - Ensign, Sanford, Cubby Culbertson, Colburn, Palin It's a joke!

[ciarequital]

Absolutely, spot on. It's an American affliction.

[SJBrown]

I don't get your point. Have you read Exodus? You know, the Pharaoh, the slaves, God, and "let my people go."

[live]

what a great story and for the first time in many years i am proud of my president

if obama doesnt do anything "substantial" other than be an ambassador for what ALL people can accomplish, he will have accomplished everything.

in a lot of ways this is a wonderful time to be an american.

now if he investigates torture, saves the economy, ends two wars, provides health care to all americans,
helps the environment-i will be even happier. i am not greedy though if he does a little of these i'll be happy too.

[maigesheng]

now if he investigates torture, saves the economy, ends two wars, provides health care to all americans,
helps the environment-i will be even happier. i am not greedy though if he does a little of these i'll be happy too.

+1

[1088]

Now he need to kick some @ ss in Congress and Senate to get things done!

[Human-Being]

The losers on here are just angry that Pres. Obama didn't apologize for slavery today. Because now they don't get the chance to defend their racist ancestors.

[AlligatorShuz]

Lehman Brothers financed the planters who bought the African Slaves and Aetna Insurance Company inured the slave ships and their human cargo....

[FebM]

Aetna Insurance Company inured "human cargo" but not the humans held as cargo. Thats what confederate "traditions" are proud of

[lcdbsez]

alligator --

Yes, and the scary part is, the C Street Foundation in DC, that's been in the news b/c of the weepublican sex scandals, thinks there's nothing wrong with those kinds of biz practices -- !!!! -- in fact, they claim it's the New Christianity . . . where a few "chosen" people are destined to rule over the rest of us poor, miserable beings, and we will be grateful for the crumbs which we are thrown.

And, worthless sacks of shiit like Kyl and Sandford (and 5 other members of Congress) live there! -- tax free, too, b/c it's a church!!

These people should either be in prison or under some serious mental supervision.

[lcdbsez]

ooops! mybad . . .

I meant, sacks of shiit like Kyl and Tom Coburn (Sanford lived there when he was a representative from SC) . . .

[rubygreen]

Icdbsez it seems there are many of us who are absolutely livid in finding out about this "church" and it's members. We need to continue talking out loud about them and call on the media to show the country who these people are.

They need to be shut down and the politicians who are members need to go.

[chitown8]

Let us not forget JP Morgan approved mortgages of Plantations.

[roshni]

Beautifully stated and from the heart.

[AnAmericanWoman]

I simply Love our President.

[lcdbsez]

anamerican --

And isn't it wonderful!!! that our Prez and the First Family doesn't have to sneak into world capitals in the middle of the night anymore?

And people adore!! them instead of burning them in effigy or throwing things (like shoes) at them!

[roshni]

Did you see the picture of President Obama holding that baby? It was so sweet.