About one thousand and two hundred people still live on the island of Goree. It is now considered a major touristic attraction. "Goree is part of our collective memory; a place where we remember the worst atrocities we have committed against each other; a place where we ask for forgiveness."
Goree church: When Pope Jean Paul 2 visited Goree in 1992 he asked for forgiveness. The Catholic Church was heavily involved in the pain and suffering caused by white men to Africans. It is said that priests used to sell slaves then go to mass.
Slavery house: This is the house of slavery established in 1776. Portuguese, English, Dutch and French traded Africa's men, women and children from the 16th century to the 19th century.
Captivity room: In here slaves were kept for months before being sold on the market. Men, women and children were chained and were allowed to leave the room only once a day. If they needed to defecate, they had to do it in the room. This is believed to have caused a major plague in the 17th century. Recalcitrants room: Slaves who disobeyed orders and tried to resist or free themselves were kept here.
Forever slave: From this door, slaves were thrown into boats that would take them to America. From here, they became slaves forever.
Slavery was abolished by the French in 1840 and today Goree is a national heritage protected by UNESCO.
Visiting Goree may be a painful experience; there is too much darkness on this colorful island.
We look around us and remember all the pain. We look around us and realize that slavery is far from being a thing from the past; it is still here, around us, it is not gone but has simply taken a different shape.