YGB of Oakland has embarked on their third trip to Ghana, West Africa arriving in West Africa on July 29th. This time 11 young people from YGB made the journey, making this the largest contingent of young people to travel on behalf of YGB in our short history. These young people will be a part of the historic Emancipation Day Ceremonies, visit Elmina and Cape Coast Castle and the Door of No Return. They will also visit other historic sites like the Last Bath, WEB Dubois Center for Pan Africanism, the African Arts Market, and several villages and museums in Ghana. These young people will also visit schools and perform for expatriates and other on the radio and on television in Ghana.
YGB will perform as a part of the Remember Project, which is an arts education campaign under the leadership of YGB Associate Artistic Director Candice Antique. These appearances will be on radio and television in Ghana, and will involve promoting Black pride and Pan Africanism in the Central Region of Ghana. As the youth present their art and the art of African American people, they will learn about many of the psychological and cultural legacies of slavery still present in the every day life of Ghana.
The entire journey was a sponsored by our community of supporters including friends, family and other individuals in Oakland. We also received very generous donations from Sway Calloway, Terrance J, and Marlon Wayans, whose final hour contributions really made this trip possible. The group of youth include one of the founders of Young Gifted and Black who recently graduated from High School and is on her way to college. One of the youngest among us, has also been in YGB since the early years, and is the second in her family to take this journey as part of YGB. We are excited for each of these 11 young people to explore their African heritage, and share their pride, and power with the people of Ghana.
You can follow the journey of YGB on Facebook.com/young-gifted-and-black You can also check us out @blackgold on twitter. We will be using the #rememberprojecttour2016 and #ygbtoghana2016 as hashtags. If you would like to still make a donation to the trip you can support us on this website or directly at rally.org/younggiftedandblack
7 of 11 travelers. Maya, Justin, Adjai, Asa, Indigo, Alona and Cali (not present in the photo Fela, Derriona, Sage, and Qadir)