A Day of Tribute at the United Nations
By Hope Wilkos 
Raquel Heslop of FR TV
Photo Credit George Whylie
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 marked a major milestone to an ongoing tribute at the United Nations. Pure Fame Media-FR TV was able to share in this monumental event.
We are now one step closer to a permanent memorial at the United Nations in honor of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. On Tuesday, the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations along with the Permanent Memorial Committee which is made up of a host of countries including Brazil, Dominica, Ghana, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar, Senegal, the United Kingdom and the African Union, unveiled their new online community. This website, http//www.unslaverymemorial.org, will have the significant task of raising awareness and funds for the design, construction and erection of a permanent memorial to aid in the remembrance of the victims of slavery and the Transatlantic slave trade. The global community will now be able to learn more about the history, news and events of the Slave Trade as well as make donations.
Garnet Wilson (L)the website designer with Host of Pure Fame Media- F R TV Raquel Heslop.
Wilson was a guest speaker at this historic launch and explained to the audience the meaning behind his design. This concept of the website was started in 2007 and has had overwhelming support over the last couple of years to get it to this point. Also on hand to give some very powerful words about this day was Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.
This will have a huge impact on future generations as a constant reminder of the legacy of the slave trade as well as serve as an educational tool to raise awareness of the current dangers of racism and prejudice.
This day was made even more special by dignitaries from some of the countries being present to make their donations in person on behalf of their nations.
India contributed $260,000 while Australia contributed $100,000 and Finland contributed $25,000. It is important to note that the date of February 1st was purposely chosen as this is the beginning of Black History Month and what better way to kick off this notable month and make it even more memorable.
The design of the memorial will be selected through an internationally acceptable, credible and transparent global competition administered through UNESCO’s Headquarters in Paris. The selection will be conducted through a transparent and politically impartial process. This final sculpture will represent each affected region of the Transatlantic Slave Trade – Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and the Americas – and will be built on the grounds of the United Nations Headquarters. It will serve as a constant reminder of the legacy of the slave trade.
The actual monument is to be revealed at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in 2013.
Comments are closed.