MA
History & Culture student Paula Royster recently returned from a
Fulbright-funded trip to the Balkan state of Montenegro (formerly Yugoslavia). The
following is a personal statement by Paula about her research and experiences
at Union Institute & University.
“I
trace the trade; that is the Slave Trade. My journeys have taken me across
continents, through the epochs of time, often leaving me with more questions
than answers. My most recent undertaking was in Montenegro. Before I began my
Fulbright, I researched the nearly extinct history of enslaved Africans in the
seaside town of Ulcinj (uhl-seen). Then, while fulfilling my assignment to
discuss the 50th Anniversary of the Great March on Washington, the
Sesquicentennial, the Civil Rights Movement, and the overall struggle for
justice and equality in marginalized communities across America, I took some
time to confirm the accuracy of my research.
What I
discovered was nothing short of amazing. I found distinct West African
influences dating back to the Turkish Ottoman Empire's rule, which contradicts
other scholars who have presumed African influences were limited to those
from North and East African slave populations. I was also able to speak with
descendants of formerly enslaved Africans. The significance of this was
not merely in speaking to a descendant of slaves, for I am one myself, but
that one descendant in particular is only one generation removed from "the
peculiar institution," and that was surreal. Moreover, she was able to
answer my research question, which was to identify the name of the African
ethnic group from which her father was abducted (Baggara in the Sudan).
The
fieldwork I have conducted on the African Diaspora was born out of my interest
in History and Culture and that makes for a happy marriage with my studies at
Union Institute & University. My professors allowed me time away from
studies to pursue my scholarly interests, which speaks volumes about their
commitment to both the philosophy and pedagogy of experiential learning. I have
every confidence that upon emergence from my scholarly life cycle at Union, I
will be fit to forge new discussions that will lead to a better understanding
of who we are as human beings, and the communal obligations we have, today, to
achieve mutual respect and decency for the sake of future generations.”