Politics
The Obamas tour slave dungeons
4:51 PM on 07/11/2009
Watch President Obama speak of his family's experience touring the slave dungeons of Cape Coast Castle.
(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
CAPE COAST, Ghana (AP) -- President Barack Obama says a slave site he visited today in Ghana reminds him of humanity's potential for "great evil." But he says it 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.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Follow theGrio on Facebook & Twitter!
Top Stories
-
Dems down to the wire lobbying for reform votes
VIDEO - They've made some progress. A fourth Democrat, John Boccieri of Ohio, has switched his vote from "no" to "yes."...
more
- Clarence Thomas' wife's Tea Party ties are supremely disturbing
- Democrats' crack-cocaine compromise is still 'racist'
- How 'Bloody Sunday' changed America
- Three reasons why Obama should take small steps to save jobs
- Why audiences should opt-out of 'Cop Out'
- Van Jones returns: 'I'm more committed to the politics of hope now'
- Todd Bridges buries troubled past in 'Killing Willis'
- Lee Daniels: We need to get out of 'Huxtable' mode
- Slideshow: 20 films that uplifted black America
- Slideshow: 15 films that hurt black America
- 'High School Musical' star Corbin Bleu talks to theGrio about new Broadway role
- Slideshow: The 25 most influential albums by African-Americans
- Obama proposes $900 million in grants to stop school drop outs
- Charles Rangel should resign in light of ethics panel ruling
- Obama, Republicans clash at heated health summit
- Fox News contributor Angela McGlowan to run for Congress in Mississippi
- NY Gov. Paterson has mere $620G to battle $12 million-man Andrew Cuomo
- The new Obama is the old Obama
- AP sources: Woods likely to return at Masters
- Michael Jordan to buy NBA's Bobcats
- First black figure skating pair leaps over color barriers & national borders
- Slideshow: The 15 best dunkers in NBA history
- Where's the diversity at the Winter Olympics?
- Slideshow: African-Americans at the Winter games
- Certain carnival dances said to come from the days of slavery
- Selma, a town rich with history, seeks new legacy
- 'Black Ski' gets a lift from the First Family
- Slideshow: A glimpse of Hawaii's gorgeous landscape
- How to celebrate Black History Month in the Big Apple
- Afro-centric brides on parade
- TheGrio's 100: Mary Spio, reaching beyond the stars
- TheGrio's 100: Tim King, prepping the next generation
- TheGrio's 100: Kamala Harris, the future of California politics
- TheGrio Reflects: The genius of Ray Charles
- TheGrio's 100: Dr. Kathie-Ann Joseph, battling breast cancer and more
- TheGrio's 100: Clarence Otis Jr, serving 400 million meals a year
- TheGrio Reflects: Malcolm X rails against complacent civil rights activists
- TheGrio Reflects: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul
- TheGrio Reflects: Muhammad Ali on Vietnam
- theGrio Reflects: The Story Of Emmett Till
- theGrio Reflects: the Underground Railroad
- theGrio Reflects: The 14th Amendment is adopted
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Myspace
Flickr
Podcast
Wordpress
Linkedin
Last.fm
Tumblr
Identi.ca
Plurk