Newsday Reporter
"Emancipation means Happiness, joy, celebratiion. Just simple things." - Kylon King, Piarco
- Photo by Faith Ayoung -
IN commemoration of African Emancipation Day, Newsday took to the streets to ask citizens about the personal significance of emancipation in their lives. Newsday photographers Gabriel Williams and Faith Ayoung captured these images and perspectives from persons in Port of Spain on July 31.
"Emancipation means Freedom. Today (July 31), I embrace my blackness, tomorrow ( Aug 1 ), I embrace my freedom." - Janelle Springer, Morvant - Photo by Faith Ayoung
"Emancipation mean, to be free from slavery. It means freedom, freedom from mental slavery, celebration of afro people, our brothers and sisters and a time for us to come together." - Kevin Felix, Malabar - Photo by Faith Ayoung
"Emancipation means Freedom." - Kerron Betancourt, Laventille - Photo by Faith Ayoung
"Emancipation is a time where we can understand where we came from and what we are now. We can understand what our ancestors did for us to even have this day to celebrate and it is a matter of freedom, so we intend to enjoy this day." - Abena Paul, Arima - Photo by Gabriel Williams
"Emancipation really means we have to emancipate ourselves from whatever situation we are in. Whether it is financial or physical struggles, we have to emancipate ourselves because nobody can do that but you. We are in a system where persons go around wearing the clothes because they tell themselves it is Emancipation Day but what about self? That is more important than just putting on a garment." - Samuel Edwards, Port of Spain - Photo by Gabriel Williams
"It doesn't mean much to me, I think since I was born I been emancipated. I don't need to get dressed up to prove I am African. I am emancipatied." - Jennifer Riley Tang Phillips, Port of Spain - Photo by Gabriel Williams
"It means an opportunity of freedom. Not only freedom from the physical shackles but freedom from the mental shackles as well. It is the ability to fight everyday for the things we want, we desire and things we can hand down to the next generation." - Nekisha Alexander, Laventille - Photo by Gabriel Williams
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"What does emancipation mean to you?"